Stéphane Brizé’s (Not Here to Be Loved) The Measure of a Man won Best Actor prize at Cannes for Vincent Landon for his intense and rigorous depiction of a man struggling with the confines of working class life.
This is accomplished and assured film-making, reminiscent of Laurent Cantet’s Human Resources, and also the close attention to the drama of everyday lives present in the Dardenne brothers’ work.
Vincent Lindon, plays Thierry, made redundant from his factory job. The film follows him through the depressing and sometimes farcical search for work in contemporary France, whilst trying to retain his dignity and humanity.
While there are charming comic touches, this is a naturalistic and devastating view of blue collar life in the modern world. A rich and carefully judged film that will draw comparisons to arthouse smash, Two Days, One Night.