La ville est tranquille (2000)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Robert Guédiguian

Writers:

Jean-Louis Milesi (scenario and dialogue) &
Robert Guédiguian (scenario and dialogue)

Release Date:

17 January 2001 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

From the director of Marius and Jeanette comes a dark and insightful tale of working-class life in Marseilles...

Plot Keywords:

Marseille | Fish Market | Piano | Husband Wife Relationship | Mother Daughter Relationship

Awards:

4 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Ariane Ascaride	...	Michèle
Jean-Pierre Darroussin	...	Paul
Gérard Meylan	...	Gérard
Jacques Boudet	...	Paul's Father
Christine Brücher	...	Viviane Froment
Jacques Pieiller	...	Yves Froment
Pascale Roberts	...	Paul's Mother
Julie-Marie Parmentier	...	Fiona
Pierre Banderet	...	Claude
Alexandre Ogou	...	Abderramane
Véronique Balme	...	Ameline
Frédérique Bonnal	...	Mrs. Préférence Nationale
Jacques Germain	...	Mister National Preference
Alain Lenglet	...	Piano mover
Amar Toulé	...	Momo, Abderramane's brother

Also Known As:

The Town Is Quiet (International: English title)

Runtime:

133 min | Italy:143 min | Argentina:136 min

Country:

France

Language:

French | English | Italian | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:14 | Australia:MA | Brazil:16 | France:U | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | Argentina:16 | New Zealand:R18

Company:

Agat Films & Cie

Movie Connections:

References Nashville (1975)

Anticapitalism and Drama

One is used to British director's Leach and Loach concerning furious films about the working class, but Robert Guédiguian beats them. Not that his fury is lesser, but it's more quiet and therefore maybe more effective. This is about Marseille working class, drawn down in every aspect because of the globalization and a capitalism which is stronger and more destructive than for many decades. Even the conventional left-wing politicians seem to have abdicated completely and that is why Le Pen is very popular among these people. If you see this movie you indeed might understand why.

Beside the critic of capitalism and especially it's maybe most disgusting form, the drug trade, there is also drama here. You get really engaged in ten people's life and the people are not uncomplicated, "although" they are working class. The acting is marvelous, especially from Ariane Ascaride, Jean-Pierre Darroussin and Gérard Meylan.

See this one. It's almost a masterpiece