Rent The Workshop (2017)
3.2 of 5 from 104 ratings
1h 49min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Set in La Ciotat, France, 'The Workshop' centres around Antoine (Matthieu Lucci), a teenager who attends a summer writing workshop. Alongside a group of similarly budding scribes, Antoine is tasked with writing a noirish crime thriller under the tutelage of celebrated novelist Olivia Dejazet (Marina Foi's), on the basis that the final piece is connected with the industrial past of their quiet hometown. While the class set about their projects, Olivia is gradually captivated by Antoine's growing indifferent and aggressive behaviour, as well as his anxieties about the modern world. This is reflected in his writing, which becomes more violent and disturbing in its depiction of a mass murderer whose politically radicalist leanings Antoine begins to sympathise with. 'The Workshop' is a riveting contemporary drama that blends social commentary with a complex study of the modern world. - Actors:
- Marina Foïs, Matthieu Lucci, Florian Beaujean, Mamadou Doumbia, Mélissa Guilbert, Warda Rammach, Julien Souve, Issam Talbi, Olivier Thouret, Charlie Barde, Marie Tarabella, Youcef Agal, Marianne Esposito, Thibaut Hernandez, Axel Caillet, Lény Sellam, Anne-Sophie Fayolle, Cédric Martinez, Chiara Fauvel, Jorys Leuthreau
- Directors:
- Laurent Cantet
- Producers:
- Denis Freyd
- Writers:
- Robin Campillo, Laurent Cantet
- Aka:
- L'atelier
- Studio:
- Curzon / Artificial Eye
- Genres:
- Drama, Thrillers
- Countries:
- France
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Reviews (3) of The Workshop
Unfocused and wordy - The Workshop review by JR
The film feels like it was cobbled together at a workshop brainstorming session as in the movie. It is very wordy - tries to address radicalism, racism and right wing extremism, but it all adds up to little more than teenage angst.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
French independant - The Workshop review by CP Customer
French independent film, simple, low budget, relies on script and character development.
I really enjoyed this film and I found it to be thoughtfully produced and directed.
The film was made using locals who had in some cases, never acted before. There is an excellent and very interesting "interview with actors and director" section where the director explains his approach and reasons for working this way. I watched it after the film.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Typically Pretentious and Wordy Arty French Film - The Workshop review by PV
Well what to say? Some older jobless teens apparently who left school with no qualifications get together in the south of France to sit around looking arty and angsty and serious while in some sort of writers' workshop where they intend to write a novel. Ho hum.
I was quite surprised that the debate was so free and open and applaud the French for that - far better than pc woke Britain where at least 3 students would be expelled from this class for what they say (and the teacher) and maybe arrested by the pc gestapo for 'hate crime' 'being offensive' or causing 'hurty feelings'.
And the supposed extreme right extremism plot strand is absurd as what the alleged extremist said (a country being able to secure its borders, prevent illegal immigration and terrorism) seems eminently sensible, surely?
It all looks pretty in the south of France. So one star for the scenery. The other for the acting. No stars for the non-story and the absurd third act.
Honestly, how do films like this even get made? I smell EU funding. Or some bloated pretentious pompous arts body.
Want to watch a film satirising writing workshops then there are others - better ones. Woody Allen's You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger ( I think) and one called The Retreat maybe, and campus comedies about absurd creative writing courses.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.