La raison du plus faible (2006)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Lucas Belvaux

Writer:

Lucas Belvaux (writer)

Release Date:

19 July 2006 (France)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

In Liège, a group of men gathers every day in a café situated near the steel factory which once reigned supreme...

Plot Keywords:

Steel Factory | Dysfunctional Family | Release From Prison | Despair | Heist

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Eric Caravaca	...	Patrick
Lucas Belvaux	...	Marc Pirmet
Claude Semal	...	Robert
Patrick Descamps	...	Jean-Pierre
Natacha Régnier	...	Carole
Elie Belvaux	...	Steve
Gilbert Melki	...	Le ferrailleur
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Philippe Anciaux	...	Capitain Magis
Daniela Bisconti	...	Gina
Andrée Cambier	...	Mère de Robert
Michel Colecchia	...	Policier en civil
Christian Crahay	...	Père de Carole
Raymonde Dullers	...	Voisine de Patrick
Théo Hebrans	...	Vieux joueur de cartes
Dominique Heinry	...	Policier en civil
Luc Lejeune	...	Gardien
Giovanni Russo	...	Guide de l'usine
Renaud Rutten	...	Arsène
Patrick Sobelman	...	Négociant
Luc Thomas	...	Le gendarme
Philippe Toussaint	...	Négociant
Félix Valentino	...	José

Directed by
Lucas Belvaux

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Lucas Belvaux		writer

Produced by
Diana Elbaum	....	co-producer
Patrick Sobelman	....	producer
Arlette Zylberberg	....	associate producer: RTBF

Original Music by
Riccardo Del Fra

Cinematography by
Pierre Milon

Film Editing by
Ludo Troch

Production Design by
Frédérique Belvaux

Costume Design by
Nathalie Raoul

Makeup Department
Catherine Bruchon	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Philippe Groff	....	unit production manager
Marie-Frédérique Lauriot dit Prévost	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dominique Heinry	....	second assistant director
Christophe Marillier	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Christophe Couzon	....	first assistant decorator

Sound Department
Henri Morelle	....	sound
Gérard Rousseau	....	sound mixer
Frank Struys	....	boom operator
Luc Thomas	....	assistant re-recording mixer
Philippe van Leer	....	foley artist
Béatrice Wick	....	sound editor

Visual Effects by
Ludovic Iochem	....	matte painter
Bertrand Levallois	....	visual effects supervisor

Camera and Electrical Department
Jean Christophe Delinaoumis	....	grip
Luc Frisson	....	first assistant camera
Laurent Leonard	....	key grip
Gunther Schockaert	....	electrician

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mylène Fraszczak	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Sarah Perrain	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Marie-Christine Damiens	....	press attache
Philippe Groff	....	location manager
Michèle Massé	....	location scout
Marika Piedboeuf	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Agat Films & Cie
• Entre Chien et Loup
• France 3 Cinéma (co-production)
• Canal+ (participation)
• CinéCinéma (participation)
• Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC) (participation)
• Wallimage (participation)
• Radio Télévision Belge Francophone (RTBF) (participation)
• Eurimages (participation)
• Soficinéma (in association with)

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Diaphana Films (2006) (France) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• Arane  laboratory services
• Ercidan  titles
• Iris Camera  camera equipment provided by
• LD Catering  catering

Runtime:

France:116 min

Country:

Belgium | France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR | DTS

Certification:

Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Belgium

Company:

Agat Films & Cie

Trivia:

Visa d'exploitation en France # 112095.

Quotes:

Patrick: I have three master degrees and they are of no use. My wife who has to wake up at dawn every day, ruining her health, and we don't even have enough to buy an used motorbike. So here you should try to support me, but you aren't going to say anything, because there is nothing to be said, there is nothing to wait for.

Soundtrack:

Elle me l'avait toudis promis

A terrible story made of laugh, tears, blood and sorrow

"La raison du plus faible" from Lucas Belvaux is a story about 4 men, 1 woman and a kid. This is a story about friendship, a story that opposes decency and adversity, bitterness and boredom…

The movie could be depicted as a "social" thriller if not a socialistic one that has the merit to dig up questions buried away by our sometimes inhuman society. What would you do if you had no perspective, no money and only dreams to be shattered? What would you do if the system was not allowing the possibility of a better life for some or redemption for others? What would you do if your more and more precarious life was pushing you that close to the edge? Would you react or would you fall? "La raison du plus faible" provides us with an answer by telling the story of these men who will believe again that a dream is feasible and who will take arms to get the money where it is and steal it because they believe this is their rights. This is also a story about choice where everybody takes his own responsibilities; a story where there are no bad guys but no good ones, a terrible story made of laugh, tears, blood and sorrow….

Slow at times but served with an outstanding cast and a cinematography perfectly matching the protagonists lack of escape , "La raison du plus faible" remains a movie to be seen… A movie that seems to whisper: "continue to dream or die"…