A Model Employee (2002)
"Une employée modèle" (original title)

François, in his early fifties, successfully runs a computer business in Normandy. He has recently developed a new product which an American corporation wants to acquire at any cost. But ... See full summary »

Director:

Jacques Otmezguine

Writer:

Jacques Otmezguine

Stars:

François Berléand, Delphine Rollin, Nicole Calfan

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
François Berléand	...	François Maurey
Delphine Rollin	...	Florence
Nicole Calfan	...	Caroline Maurey
Bruno Todeschini	...	Rolland
François Morel	...	Commissaire Bovary
Leslie Phils	...	Marianne Maurey
Steve Suissa	...	Le rocker
Annick Blancheteau	...	Christina
Jean-Luc Porraz	...	Loraz
Hubert Saint-Macary	...	Charles
Geoffrey Bateman	...	L'Américain
Michel Baladi	...	Gendarme usine
Pierre Forest	...	Gendarme motard
Charlie Gnini	...	Voyou
Abdel Halis	...	Voyou

Storyline

François, in his early fifties, successfully runs a computer business in Normandy. He has recently developed a new product which an American corporation wants to acquire at any cost. But François refuses to be bought out in spite of head engineer Rolland's insistent advice. His personal life, on the other hand, is a failure: Caroline, his wife for twenty-five years, is leaving him, and his relationship with his daughter could be better. One day, he meets Florence, a pretty damsel in distress who soon blooms into a "model employee"...

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Genres:

Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

6 August 2003 (France)

Also Known As:

A Model Employee

Filming Locations:

Calvados, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+, Carrère Groupe, Ex Machina

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min 89 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"X 27", the code name of the patent developed by François and coveted by the American corporation is a tribute Josef von Sternberg's "Dishonored" (1931)starring Marlene Dietrich as espionage agent X 27.

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Connections

References Cries & Whispers (1972)

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Soundtracks

"Elle est d'ailleurs"
(1980)
Written by Pierre Bachelet and Jean-Pierre Lang
Published by Mage Music Editions
Performed by Gino Baci
(played while the end credits roll)

User Reviews

Passable French thriller

"Une employée modèle" is commonly regarded as a poor movie by most, even as a flop by some. I would personally be less disparaging. After all, this is an unpretentious little thriller, designed mainly to entertain - and entertained I was.

The plot revolves around François (François Berléand, more restrained than usual, and quite rightly so considering the role he plays), a software company owner in his fifties. A success in the working world (so much so that a big American corporation covets the new product he has just developed), he is a failure in his private life (he is unable to communicate properly with his daughter and his wife is leaving her after twenty-five years of marriage). He has become a perfect prey for femme fatale Florence...

As I said before, I found this film fun to watch, although I have to admit that this is no masterpiece. Too clichéd (the ugly American shark) and far-fetched (the Marxist cop commissaire Bovary, named after Flaubert, what a mishmash!), "Une employée modèle" suffers mainly from its unbelievable last part.

On the other hand, the first two thirds are not that bad, giving the viewer an insight into the everyday life of a small computer business in provincial France. And the three successive false endings - terribly unrealistic as they are - do get the plot moving again until the very last seconds.

All in all, not such a bomb as announced. Rather a passable thriller, nothing to be ashamed of.