After La Daronne, Jean-Paul Salomé collaborates again with the immense Isabelle Huppert for La Syndicaliste, a social thriller due in cinemas on March 1 and on DVD from July 12, 2023.
And for this adaptation of Caroline Michel-Aguirre's book, the filmmaker has surrounded himself well. In addition to Isabelle Huppert, La Syndicaliste stars Grégory Gadebois, Pierre Deladonchamps, François-Xavier Demaison, Marina Foïs and Yvan Attal. All in a thriller that tells the true story of Maureen Kearney, whose story Caroline Michel-Aguirre told in 2019 in the book of the same name.
Our opinion
In this portrait of the real-life Areva trade unionist, Isabelle Huppert takes on the role of a lioness, a strong woman who doesn't let anyone or anything get her down, in a fundamentally political film. It's a role tailor-made for this great actress, who pulls it off wonderfully. The character, ambivalent, calculating and sometimes manipulative, finds herself trapped after an attack. She quickly instills doubt in the investigating police officers, who even suspect her of being framed.
La Syndicaliste is a fascinating film about a woman against the system. The feminist dimension of the story is obviously essential, and gives the film a very special flavor. The only way to silence this troublesome woman is to physically attack her. But even then, she won't let it happen.
What's most exciting about this film, in addition to its complex script, is its cast. With his five-star cast, Jean-Paul Salomé gives pride of place to the secondary characters. Grégory Gadebois, François-Xavier Demaison and Pierre Deladonchamps are very good, as usual, but Marina Foïs and Yvan Attal are simply brilliant. Attal plays the hyper-threatening president of Areva, sometimes frightening, sometimes pathetic, and this is one of his best performances. It's a pity that the staging remains rather static and unimaginative.
La Syndicaliste tells the true story of Maureen Kearney, a CFDT delegate at Areva, who in 2012 became a whistleblower to expose a state secret that shook the French nuclear industry. Alone against all odds, she fought tooth and nail against ministers and industrialists to bring this scandal to light and defend over 50,000 jobs, until the day she was violently assaulted and saw her life turned upside down...
March 2025 cinema releases: Films and times near you
Discover all the movies in theaters in March 2025 with showtimes near you. Don't miss a single movie! [Read more]
Not sure which film to see today? Well, we've got plenty of films to show near you. [Read more]
March 2025 cinema releases: Films and times near you
Cinema: which film to see today, this Monday November 18, 2024?
