gotta love Brizé and his smart cinema of social realities in the neoliberal delusion we're living in. he's consistent (something that about the other masters of this - the Dardenne brothers - can't be said anymore sadly). Un bon petit Soldat is technically a simple working place dramedy, with a couple of hilarious scenes: sweetheart Vincent Lindon transforms into a proper CEO asshole, Sharif Andoura meanwhile gives a fantastic depiction of a "happiness coach". as ridiculous as this may sound, they pull those characters off, flawlessly. Alba Rohrwacher is amazing likewise: she's responsible for the drama parts, involving her family, telling something about the competitive nature with which we're supposed to fight each other in this ideology that comes along so handsomely harmless, but loves to knock you out beyond the surface. Brizé's "small" film is so good because he's getting a lot of small decisions right: the created characters are walking on a thin line between cliche & authenticity, but everyone makes it work. the actual depravity doesn't come from individuals only (although everyone in here is flawed & the film doesn't sugarcoat that), but from the collective processes that can always hide in the shadows of the ideology everyone - openly or secretly - accepted. the drama unfolds calmly and without any bangs to it: there's no suicide, no murder, no outrage - only layoffs, only tears, only silent violence. a wonderful little gem, and here's hope this one gets a proper recognition for the awards on Saturday./// Venezia 83 ///
