RIEN DE PERSONEL
France, 2009, 90 minutes, Colour.
Jean- Pierre Darroussin, Denis Podalydes, Melanie Doutey, Pascal Greggory.
Directed by Mathias Gokalp.
Rien de Personel is an intriguing film. It begins with a group entering a museum-like space, with strange sculptures, and the reception for what seems to be a party. As the film moves on, we realise that games are being played, commercial games where the directors of a pharmaceutical company are having tests of management with red-jacketed supervisors watching various employees and their interactions in teams.
The film focuses on Bruno, bewildered as he prepares for his encounter with the strong-minded Natacha. He becomes despairing about the future of his job. He also encounters Gilles, the union representative who commiserates with him and offers to help him so that he will not lose his job. Then the action begins again, focusing on Natacha. We then realise that the film is one of various role-plays – very difficult to tell who is acting and who are the executives and officials who are being tested. Natacha has difficulty with her husband who is also an executive whom she thinks has deceived her about the sale of the company. Pascal Greggory is the company manager, presiding over the proceedings. There are various other characters who may be actors acting as coaches or who may be real employees in danger of losing their jobs. There is also a character who is one of the doormen and is sacked, taking Bruno’s jacket and mingling with the crowd as if he were the owner of the company.
While the film is sometimes bewildering for the audience to work out who is who, it is an intriguing look at the devices management use, especially for testing their employees and possibly sacking them.
1. An intriguing French drama? Characters? The basic situation? The workplace and companies? Survival? Tests?
2. The focused setting, the museum-like building, the skeleton sculptures at the opening, the food and the distribution? The nature of the gathering? Muller emerging as the boss? Supervising, singing and everybody applauding? The different rooms? Toilets, open spaces, the steps outside? Real and surreal? The musical score?
3. The title, business practices, nothing personal?
4. The structure of the film, the chapters, the initial focus on Bruno, the married couple, the activities of the whole group? The narrative beginning again, different angles on the same characters, situations, speeches? The different perspectives and the audience learning more information about each character?
5. Bruno’s story, timid man, in the washroom, getting somebody to tie his tie, giving his coat to the attendant? His looking scruffy, Natacha and her interview with him, his family situation, supervision, on trial, the testing period coming to an end? His reaction to Natacha, leaving her, eating? Gilles and his concern, Bruno pouring out his heart, Gilles’ concern? Biting the glass? Gilles taking him outside, offering him his coat, comfort?
6. Natacha’s story, with her husband? Their place in the company? Well dressed, her style, sure in her manner? The encounter with Bruno? Her perspective as being observed, doing the test? Not realising Bruno was an actor? Hearing about the company sale, the attack on her husband, her collapse, her concern? Her husband, his role, authority, his deceiving his wife?
7. Gilles’ story, his role in the unions, earnest, encountering Muller as they arrived, Muller’s offering for him to resign from the union, giving him a supervisory position? Gilles standing on his principles? Wanting to help people? His talking with Bruno, the reality and the role-play? His realising the glass was a fake? His growing concern, discussions with Muller and the others? With Barbieri? His sitting on the steps with Bruno? His concern about the future?
8. The Barbieris, the man drinking, talking, giving away information? Christine and her being the assistant to Muller? His exposing her and his relationship with her? Her humiliation? The clash with her husband? His telling her that she gave away too much information? Her becoming depressed, the couple together? Their leaving, Barbieri sitting on the roof singing?
9. Muller, control, the possibility of the sale, the evening using tax money for training? To impress the potential buyers? His wanting the best deal? His singing? Going to the toilet, the handle falling off, Christine leaving him there? His trying to get out?
10. The attendant, taking the coat, being told he was no longer employed, putting on Bruno’s coat, circulating, being mistaken for Muller, his speech, being given the documents, going to the car? His giving the documents to Bruno, Bruno’s surprise in reading them? Bruno giving the documents to Gilles? The exposure?
11. The cumulative effect of experiencing this evening with such a variety of people, in the testing situation, and the audience reflecting on management, companies and their way of dealing with their employees?
