Red Soil

I watched the lead actress, Zita Hanrot, in her Cesear winning role, "Fatima" and in the Netflix romantic comedy TV show, "Plan Couer", so it was interesting to see her tackling workplace corruption as an ecological whistleblower in a small French village.

Nour (Hanrot) is an occupational nurse who is hired at a local chemical plant where her father has worked as a safety manager for many years. She takes the job her father secured for her, after being fired as an ER nurse for a judgement call (that turned out to be the only decision she could make). And much of the film follows the idea that the right call is the only choice even when it will impact other people negatively. Nour's decisions will impact her family but will bring attention to widespread corruption and workplace safety.

Hanrot is a really dynamic actress who handles the film's dramatic material really well. Having seen her in comedic roles, this was a nice look at her range as a performer. The supporting cast is equally good, in particular, Nour's father, who himself has no choice but to fall in line with the corruption or risk losing his job and his relationship with his daughter.

Critics gave this film mixed reviews but French films tend to be reserved and slow burning. If you're expecting loud and commanding performances like in Julia Robert's Oscar winning role in "Erin Brockovich" you won't find it here.

I really enjoyed it, I do like films with an environmental theme. Especially when they have basis in truth to highlight what is happening in the world. I loved the shots of the red soil as well.

I thought the characters were well thought out and complicated. Like you understand why they were making the choices they were making, even if you didn't agree. But I thought this way really showed you this not only made for a more interesting story, but it showed not everything is black and white.

The Dad and the Daughter are both really looking out for the workers in their own way. The acting was excellent, and the plot well done.

What I liked in this movie, is that there is no didactic point of view, I mean there is no intent to teach you anything, to tell you that a factory is destined to increase pollution or journalist purpose is to jam the economical system.... Both point of views are exposed. A good character study too, though a bit smooth, predictable, too" french" maybe. A good American film presented for the Academy Awards would have been more powerful. Of course. Sami Bouajila is outstanding here, so is Olivier Gourmet, as the big executive. I will finish by saying that in this kind of issue, you have to choose between economy, employment, business and health, ecology, protection of the.environment. You CAN NOT HAVE BOTH. You see, a very simple problem but unfortunately without any solution. The same with any politics for a president or a prime minister, he has to choose between social care or stock market...A "simple" matter of priority. That depends of the individuals. Socialism or liberalism. Ecology - health- or economy issue is exactly the same.

Committed but not dogmatic.

The whistleblower figure is popular on the big screen at the moment. and quite rightly so: no one denies the bravery of these new heroes and heroins nor their usefulness for the good health of democracy. But having a character fighting alone for the truth against a system a million times stronger is not enough to make a good film. Of course the genre guarantees suspense and highlights, but to be really successful, the writers and directors must definitely avoid the gaping trap that risks opening up under their feet, that of Manichaeism and self-righteousness. If they do mean to create a strong work of art they should then definitely avoid distributing good and bad points, pointing out the good guys and the bad guys. Otherwise their film will be worth little more than a low-grade soap opera. Regarding Farid Bentoumi's film "Rouge (Red Soil)", which falls into the category described above, we can say, if you pass me the pun, that all the lights are green. Its relevant subject to begin with: the denunciation of a secret affair of toxic discharges, polluting a chemical plant and its neighborhood as well as a lake , the whole thing inspired by real facts having occurred in Ajka, Hungary (but which can happen anywhere on the globe, including at the Lake of Gardannes in the South of France for example). Also to the point is the realistic framework in which the action takes place: the natural setting, an existing chemical plant in Savoie, a good description of the factory's working and health conditions (symptomatic is the scant attention paid to occupational medicine within its walls). Everything in this film simply rings true. Having successfully created a convincing setting, the director can now launch the young Nour on her difficult crusade for the truth to the unreserved adhesion of the viewer.. But who in fact is Nour? Well, the young woman is a hospital nurse who, following a professional problem, has become a company nurse for a chemical company. A key element is that she owes this work to her father Slimane, a specialized worker and staff representative, a respected figure who has been a fixture of the plant for decades. A blessing that unfortunately turns to a curse when Nour begins to understand that there is something abnormal going on in this enterprise. Honest to the core, the young woman soon finds herself facing an insoluble dilemma: should she put gratitude and family feelings first and thus become an accomplice to a system that damages the health of a great number of people? Or should she fight for the truth at the risk of alienating the love of her entire family ? Far from weakening the film by excessive sentimentality, this intimate drama actually gives "Rouge" more relef, while avoiding any soulless (and accordingly counter-productive) dogmatism. With such a rich psychological study it has indeed nothing of a soulless political tract. It is a million much better: a double cry from the heart, both social and sentimental, the one and the other enriching each other. There is no doubt that success could only be achieved with the investment of top-notch players; mission accomplished! Embodying Slimane and Nour, two torn characters, Sami Bouajila and Zita Hanrot are up to the task, the former pointing out the flaws of his character under a veneer of serenity and benevolence while the young actress displays a winning mix of naturalness, energy and sensitivity. To this duo of great quality is added Céline Sallette, convincing as a committed journalist with a dark side. Thanks to their art and direcctor's no one is caricatured : everyone has their reasons, including the plant manager (Olivier Gourmet, too little on screen but mesmerizing as always), who cannot be completely hated. Technically speaking, the film is classic but devilishly effective, well paced and catchy from start to finish. The scope format is skillfully used and the few color effects, including the regular appearance of the color red, both a symbol of aggression (the polluted lake, the toxic mud) or of passionate impulses (Nour's bright red wedding dress, her protective gear), are a welcome artistic plus. Go and see "Rouge", a film not only committed to a good cause but also thrilling, thought-porovoking and moving. You will see red in front of the practices denounced in this excellent work. Your eyes will be reddened by Nour's impossible choice. As for Farid Bentoumi, he has nothing to... blush about!