La comédie du travail

A former reviewer of the Cahiers Du Cinema,and a cinema erudite (One of his characters goes to see Dreyer's "Vampyr" ,but he does not choose it for the sake of art),Luc Moullet is a maverick of the French cinema,who has remained faithful to the Nouvelle Vague precepts :the hard -line NW ,that is to say loose screenplay, shoestring budget ,and even in a spoof such as this 1988 work, a form which might discourage the goodwill viewer.

"La Comédie Du Pouvoir" was awarded the "Vigo Prize" in 1988 but ignored by the mainstream audience.

The subject is not obligatory funny ;last week a man who had lost his job rushed out under a train .

The story involves three main characters: Françoise ,who works for the French national employment office,is rebuked by her chef because she finds work for everyone and the office might close (and thus its employees would Wind up on the dole ) Benoit Constant(sic) ,a former stage manager,is a conscientious good worker:he has just been fired,and he does want to work again.

Sylvain Berg (re-sic)is a "Professional" unemployed person;he actually "retired at 20,after his B.A.", spending his time traveling around the world,and coming back from time to time to sign on at the national employment agency .

It is funny (in places) but directing leaves a lot to be desired and the amateurish playing does not help.

Some good moments along the way :"don't you say "unemployed person"!do say "job seeker" ;in the interminable queue ,one of the job seekers is reading "War and peace" : he's got plenty of time.