The basic premise - a man begins the day by killing another(s) and then, rather than flee, waits in a locked room for the police to come and, whilst waiting, reflects on the events that led to his drastic action - is unashamedly the same framework employed by writer Jacques Prevert and director Marcel Carne in their late thirties classic Le Jour se leve, the essential difference being that their protagonist, Jean Gabin, had, by 1939, established himself in a series of 'blue-collar' roles, a symbol of the working-class, whilst Jean-Pierre Darroussin is the opposite, middle management or better and working in an International bank rather than performing semi-skilled work in a factory. Again, in Le Jour se leve although social conditions do play a part there is also a more 'personal' element that drives Gabin to kill Jules Berry whereas in Le Bon Matin corrupt banking is the prime factor behind Darroussin's action. Darroussin is an actor - and latterly director - who is virtually incapable of giving a bad performance and this is close to his best which is another way of saying as good as it gets. Whether it will find its audience is another matter but it certainly deserves to.+
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writers_reign6 December 2013
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dbdumonteil4 December 2017It could not have come at a better time ,this tale of harassment :harassment has always existed ,but it has almost been a taboo subject.Whatever the race or creed or sexual orientation ,harassment knows no limits ,no sex or class ...Many people have been subject to it , in their schools , barracks, factories or ..offices .
Bank executives are not spared ,particularly when they are getting old and when their boss has a young protegee who has his sights fixed high. The boss is condescending ,and his looks kill: he always use the familiar "Tu " whereas his victim insists he should use the polite "Vous".This nuance,which does not exist in the English language ,is crucial to feel Paul's humiliation.Humiliation leads to despair , rebellion and tragedy .But one individual struggling against the boss can't hope to win when many of his colleagues are resigned to their fate :his so called friend keeps on repeating "what can we do?" and Clarisse,who has just been unfairly fired, does not even want to fight against her employer : more,she despises Paul ,who tries to help him ,because she unconsciously knows that there's no place for an honest man in a place where brother will turn on brother.
The film begins with the ominous notes of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony and is a long flashback ;even if it does not always avoid clichés (the hero's son) , Darroussin makes it all worthwhile, he is one of the best contemporary French actors , as brilliant portraying a fallen executive as playing a generous working-class man in "Les Neiges Du Kilimandjaro" -
FilmCriticLalitRao17 October 2013Nobody can deny that most films are made for local audiences by keeping ideas,audiences' sensibilities and tastes which have a strong bearing on a specific geographic location.It can be a film about a city,region or even a nation.However,there are times when some films come with such strong content that they end up defying this very classification as their subject matter might be local but their impact is in many ways global as well as universal.By directing 'Un Bon Matin',French director Jean-Marc Moutout has made one such film which questions the unethical work environment in banking sector which pushes a French executive to exterminate his harasser. De Bon Matin is effective on a global level as it depicts corrupt banking practices which can be found in any nation with a banking system.One gets to see corrupt officials,workers with cowardice marked on their faces and even some management puppets who make futile efforts to influence honest executives.As the film progresses, it is clear that it is not merely the killing of a man by another man which is questioned but there is a constant interrogation of slaying of beliefs,emotions and ideas.This film is very relevant to contemporary French society which has witnessed many suicides by office executives in recent past.Lastly,actor Jean-Pierre Darroussin adds one more successful acting lesson in his role book with his portrayal of a lonely man who chose violence as the ultimate solution as he did not receive any solace in his times of grief from people who knew him well.
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searchanddestroy-15 October 2011It is not Michael Douglas but Jean Pierre Daroussin who plays here a bank clerk in total distress, who goes to work in the morning, as an ordinary fellow, and who kills his two managers. A terrific ordinary story which finds its origin in the worldwide economic and social crisis. The story of a man ostracized by most of the people around him, especially his supervisors, his chiefs, and who is pushed to his limits. The picture of a inhuman jungle, where people are crushed if they don't want to serve those who control them. Daroussin gives here an outstanding performance as the lead character. The audience may feel what he feels, and suffer what he suffers. An awful story that may destroy you. Painful, terrific, so real.
Outstanding. But so simple too. -
bombersflyup29 May 2019Early One Morning is relatable in one way or another, but monotonous and dull.
The story has little to offer and none of the other characters are given the time of day. So once Paul has made his decision, why not have some fun with it? Walking into the office shooting the two of them and then just sitting there... it's just so dull. Kidnap him and ghosty him in his car off a bridge or something. I'm saying that jokingly, but you need a hell of a lot more than this. -
Opening with the shooting by a colleague of two of his managers, this powerful movie is tightly made, doesn't waste a single frame and has excellent acting on the part of Jean-Pierre Darroussin and also the supporting cast. Made without music, the film relies on this excellent acting (and the associated script and, for those non-french speakers amongst us, very good and natural sub-titles) to set and carry through the mood.
This is the film that prompted me to join IMDB so I could recommend it to others. Its that good. A must watch!