A 1920 socialist fever dream where steel workers seize the means of cinematic production.
Luc Froment, a reform-minded engineer, starts working at a steel mill in a small town. There he founds small groups of workers (and their families) under miserable conditions. Under the influence of Fourier's ideas, Froment tries to turn the mill into a workers' co-operative.
Production
Massive factory sets that dwarf the actors — scale as politics.
Costume
Grime-authentic workwear that'll make you grateful for OSHA.
Director
Henri Pouctal
Léon Mathot
Luc Froment
Huguette Duflos
Josine
Raphaël Duflos
Delaveau
Claude Mérelle
Fernande Delaveau
Juliette Clarens
Suzanne Boisgelin
Marc Gérard
Martial Jordan
Camille Bert
Ragu
Andrée Brabant
Nise Delaveau
Andrée Lionel
Soeurette
Henri-Amédée Charpentier
Le père Lunot
Paul Amiot
Feuillat
Gilbert Dalleu
Jérôme Gurignon
Delaunay
Le président Gaume
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Zola's novel was already a socialist touchstone; this adaptation landed during France's post-WWI labor unrest, making it accidentally timely propaganda.
Director Henri Pouctal died the same year this released, making Work his unintentional swan song — a fittingly tragic end for a film about crushed dreams.
FR
