Emil Bakkum The film Resources Humaines is in essence a low-budget study on labor value. Director Cantet uses the scheme of class struggle for the portrayal of the relations between the blue- and white-collar workers in a production plant. The mutual feelings of stress are aggravated and perhaps even somewhat distorted by the father-son relation, that is woven into the story. In summary, the college graduate rationalizes the production process, and in passing makes his fathers job redundant. The factual narration itself is so simple, that there is plenty of room to delve into the many psychological facets. This allows for detailed character studies, and Cantet portrays them in sharp contrasting colors. The Bolshevist shop steward of the trade union (CGT) is against any alterations. The managing director is cunning in an unpleasant way. The workers are impassive as a result of their monotonous jobs. The son has the stupid arrogance of the new-born believer in dogmas. As a result the viewer has trouble in identifying with any of the characters. Obviously Cantet tries to sympathize with the blue-collars, but his preference is not supported by the events itself. The main weakness of the film is, that it appears half a century too late. In our postindustrial society the situation has been resolved, and is no longer a subject of debate. Today everybody knows, that a job will not last for life. Employees are obliged to engage in lifelong learning. We also appreciate, that work at the assembly line is so dull, that it is inhumane and should be automated as much as possible. The days of the laborers smashing the machines ended two centuries ago. So a sensible person can only welcome the intention of the managing director to hand over the repetitive tasks to robots. And the viewer looks at disbelief at the ensuing occupation of the plant by the workers, who reject any discharges. This behavior, that fitted in the fifties of the previous century (see for instance the nice film Made in Dagenham), is in our times a relic of the past. Resources Humaines suggests that political agitation and class struggle are more important than efficient production. The normal, modern and sensible act under these circumstances is of course starting negotiations between the management and the trade union in order to arrange decent social plans for the redundant personnel. We are also surprised by the promotion of the working week of 35 hours. Evidently Europeans have always valued their leisure time, but in recent years the emphasis has shifted to leave for duties with regard to caring (children, elderly) or for study. Or on part-time and flexible contracts. In conclusion, the film Resources Humaines is debating the wrong issues. If you appreciate films about labor, you may consider seeing my other reviews.

donal-carolan This film is probably the worst film that I have ever seen. I'm studying french at college and thus understood all the dialog, so the language barrier wasn't an issue. I must say it is really hard to empathize with any of the characters depicted in the movie. There is only one professional actor in the cast and I'm guessing no professional directors or writers.Although I have rated it 1 out of 10 it probably doesn't merit such a poor rating. This is merely a futile effort of lowering its current overall rating of 7.3 to something more realistic. Perhaps 4.3 would be a more accurate rating because the film is a true non-event 100 minutes or so in length that you will never get back.The real shame is that I am sure some college student is busting his nut making a film twice as good and half the length. However if you want to join the bandwagon which seems to be rolling around IMDb you might as well go ahead give "Lost in Translation" a 10 as well.

Chris Knipp This drama about a labor-management conflict tearing apart a father-son relationship is truly one of the finest French films of the last decade and is a must for anyone interested in contemporary films on social issues. Terrific performances especially by Jean-Claude Vallod as the factory worker father, Jalil Lespert as the management-trainee son, Chantal Barré as his mother, and Danielle Mélador as the feisty rep of the Communist-backed CGT union--among others. Though Cantet's subsequent films ('Time Out'/'L'Emploi du temps', 2001, 'Heading South'/'Vers le sud,' 2005) have been interesting and original, he has yet to hit on anything as strong as this. First time I've seen this film again since it appeared briefly in a Berkeley theater in 2000, and it moved me just as deeply as it did then. A great deal more could be said about 'Human Resources,' but most of it has already been said. I wish Jalil Lespert, who has appeared in so many films, had had more roles like this, but the only other notable one I know of for him is as 'Le Petit Lieutenant,' in Xavier Beauvois' touching and well acted cop flick, for which Nathalie Baye got the Best Actress Cesar.

rtlusa I am French and I am very proud when I see that such a movie can be produced in my country - It's not a movie with Gerard Depardieu, it's a movie with real situations and real people, about working in a factory, blue collar and white collar confrontation, family feud. Acting is great with only one professional actor, the rest being amateurs. I highly recommend it. It's not an easy piece. But it will you make think.