A columnist sets out to meet those she likes to discredit on television sets. Welcome to “Au travail!”, a new documentary by François Ruffin.
“Guests everywhere, experts in nothing.” As evidenced by a recent cover of Humanité magazine, Sarah Saldmann could be one of those we call “toutologues”. Speaking on the radio and on TV sets, the Parisian lawyer often gets angry about the minimum wage, “the welfare recipients”, and the “lazy people” who live on social assistance. A potpourri which does not leave the MEP François Ruffin indifferent, one day a guest on the Grandes Gueules set on RMC. “I ask you to try to live, Mrs Saldmann, for three months, on €1,300.” The invitation is extended, “one week won’t be bad.” she answers him. And a documentary project was born.
“At work!”, at the cinema on December 4.
© Adok Films Sàrl
On the occasion of “Thank you Boss!” (César for best documentary film in 2017), the invitation card was sent to Bernard Arnault. The letter will remain unanswered. Bringing together the worlds, the “invisibles from above”, and the “invisibles from below”, is an idea dear to MEP François Ruffin. A regular on BFM Business, CNews and TPMP, the 33-year-old lawyer then traveled around France, toiling in a fish factory, delivering packages, participating in a Secours populaire collection, and in a home help mission.
Far from the splendor of the Plaza Athénée, the columnist rolls up her sleeves in a slightly surreal media exercise, but tinged, we hope, with good faith energy. However, the friction of the two tectonic plates could not take place without some pitfalls regarding class and gender relations. A little comical, touching when he gives voice to the professions that make the country tick (a real strength of the documentary), although on the threshold of social tourism and flirting with the documentary UFO, “At work!” could certainly not exist without becoming the ubuesque theater of the gulf that separates the two personalities. Irreconcilable, “Get to work!” nevertheless mirrors many contemporary realities.
“Get to work!” can be seen in cinemas from December 4.
Trailer for “Get to Work!”
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