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Une part du ciel
2002 Drama
Review
This noteworthy first film from Belgian director Bénédicte Liénard
provides a sobering reflection of the grim reality experienced by many women in today’s
supposedly just and civilised society. The film provocatively implies that factory
workers are no better off than prison detainees: both groups are exploited and have to
endure inhuman conditions day-in, day-out, and neither group has any real chance of being
able to change things for the better. Liénard’s cold, slow, meditative
approach conveys both the tortured monotony of the lives she is portraying, and a real
sense of hopelessness.
The film’s strong political undertone doesn’t weaken its humanity, and some exceptional performances – notably from Séverine Caneele (who previously featured in Bruno Dumont’s L’Humanité) – arouse in the spectator an overwhelming empathy with the characters we see in the film. Whilst there is injustice in our society, there will always be a place in cinema for such no-nonsense social drama as this. © James Travers 2005 Write a review for this film...User Comments
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Director:
Bénédicte Liénard
Starring: Séverine Caneele, Sophie Leboutte, Josiane Stoléru, Naïma Hirèche, Annick Keusterman Synopsis
Claudine’s days are spent folding pastries on a production line in a food processing
factory. A militant trades union leader, she strives to get better pay and working
conditions from her employers, but progressively her union’s influence is diminishing.
Unless the women want to lose their jobs in an increasingly competitive market, they must
accept what the company has to offer them. Meanwhile, Joanna, a friend of Claudine,
is serving a stretch in prison after having been convicted of an act of violence.
Joanna works with other women prisoners in a workshop where they fold maps all day.
When she objects to her working conditions and paltry remuneration, she is forcefully
reminded where she is. Joanna’s lawyer appeals to Claudine to provide witness
testimony which may help to have her friend released from prison. Claudine is mindful
of the fact that if she does so, her influence as a union official will be further undermined.
Credits
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