EARLY ONE MORNING/DE BON MATIN

France, 2011, 91 minutes, Colour.
Jean- Pierre Darroussin, Valerie Dreville, Xavier Beauvois.
Directed by Jean- Marc Moutout.

Early One Morning a striking French drama, focusing on a seemingly ordinary man, aged 50, going to work one morning and then drawing a gun and shooting his associates. He locks himself in his office and contemplates his life, the flashbacks tracing the arc of his life, unhappiness and relationships, at work, in himself.

The strength of the film is in performance of its style, the always visit an interesting Jean- Pierre Darroussin. Of interest, in the role of Alain Fisher is the director of Of Gods and Man, Xavier Beauvois.

1. A contemporary drama? Male crisis? Mid-life crisis and career? French setting? Universal experience?

2. The setting of the global financial crisis? Personal crises, the bank crises? Managers, deals, clients, employees? The feasibility of bad management? Salaries, bonus, promotions?

3. The French setting, the characters? The French slant on the issues?

4. Paul, his age, the opening with his getting up, his relationship with his wife, going to work, public transport, ordinary? Greeting people in the office? Shooting the managers? Going to his desk and sitting?

5. The flashbacks and the portrait of Paul, his character, the upright man, dedication to his work, love for his wife, becoming more desperate, the strained relationship with his son, studies, the son’s reaction to his father? At work, colleagues, discussions, meetings with clients, writing reports?

6. The company bringing in the head kicker, the discussions with Paul, the report and the firing of the female co-worker, her attitude? Paul wanting to talk with her, explanations, her turning on him? Having the documents? Wanting to remove the blame? The various moves in the office, the critique?

7. The psychological pressure, the past and his hopes, becoming more desperate, discussion with his friends and the office? The discussion with the young assistant brought in to improve matters, confiding in him, helping him, his siding with the bosses, becoming a victim of the shooting as well?

8. The consequences for Paul, his shooting himself? Audience response? The family and the aftermath?

9. An effective brief drama about important work, social, psychological issues?