The Workshop (2017) User Reviews (15)

French society under the microscope

[rubenm · 7/10 · 15 October 2017]

For those who have seen Laurent Cantet's previous film 'Entre les murs', his new movie 'L'atelier' can have a 'déja vu' effect. Both films share the same concept: a group of French teenagers from all walks of life, brought together under the supervision of an adult, talk about their lives and what's going on in society. 'Entre les murs' was almost entirely set in a school building, 'L'atelier' shows a creative writing workshop in La Ciotat, a town on the Mediterranean coast near Marseille.

There are many similarities between both movies, but also many differences. 'L'atelier' delves deep into the psychology of one workshop participant, and also shows the world around the house where the workshop takes place. In a way, it is more complex and deeper than 'Entre les murs'.

The location of the film is very important. La Ciotat is a town in decline, but the local population cherishes nostalgic memories of its past as an important ship building town. Cantet uses historical footage to show this glorious past. The shipyard is still there, but it is no longer in use. The resentment of the locals is a rich feeding ground for anti-immigrant politicians.

These problems will soon dominate the workshop, led by the elegant Parisian author Olivia Dejazet. The kids in the workshop think she is snobbish and doesn't really understand their problems, but she soon shows her teaching talent by coaching their sentiments and encouraging them to use those feelings in their writing efforts.

Dejazet is intrigued by Antoine, a provocative workshop participant who shocks with his extreme and cruel writing efforts. She wants to understand what's going on in his head, partly because she considers using this insight in her next novel. In turn, Antoine tries to analyze Dejazet's way of thinking by dissecting one of her novels. After a while the mutual obsession between teacher and pupil gets out of hand.

'L'Atelier' tackles the problems of modern French society in a very original way. The contrasts are numerous: the intellectuals in Paris versus the working class population in the industrial towns, the Muslim population versus the non-Muslims (the Bataclan massacre is one of the discussion subjects), and the ultra-right populists versus the socialist left. But the film is also a psychological drama between two strong characters, both played very effectively. Laurent Cantet has put French society under the microscope, and shows that there is a lot of dissent, but also much hope for better times.

Some nice performances but I struggled to discern the meaning and purpose of the film.

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 21 October 2017]

The French film, "The Workshop", is a difficult film for me to review. On one hand, I appreciated that it dared to address some important social issues facing the country and many other countries. But, on the other, the message seems confusing and will likely leave many viewers wondering what the picture was trying to say…or, if it was trying to say anything at all.

The story is set in a small town which is experiencing hard times. The local shipyard was closed long ago and there is a sense of malaise over the place. Because of this, it's surprising that a published author like Olivia (Marina Fois) would come all the way here to teach a summer course on creative writing. Seven students have signed up for the class and its freestyle structure leads to these young adults revealing who they are and what they think during the discussions. Several of the students are defensive because they are Muslims and the class is working on a murder mystery…and they don't want the characters or story to come off as anti-Muslim. But one of the students, a loner named Antoine (Matthieu Lucci) seems to take pleasure out of baiting his fellow students and bucking the group-think that has been established in the class. Over time, Olivia begins to worry that Antoine actually might harbor real fantasies of murder…and his social media account and that of his friends seem to indicate this is a real possibility. The story, at this point, is pretty interesting and I was hooked. Unfortunately, the teacher's actions and Antoine's from this point on are unpredictable, often confusing and really left me wondering what the message was supposed to be in the picture. In other words, it all seemed to fall apart at the end and left some of the viewers baffled. It's all a shame, as there really are some interesting story elements and it could have been better.

Social thriller

[johnpierrepatrick · 7/10 · 20 March 2020]

Laurent Canter, the director, is mainly known for "Entre les murs". The start of this movie makes us think we will watch something similar. Instead of a class of teenagers, a workshop, with young adult. However, instead of describing the relationship between the members - one of the things he does best, Laurent Cantet focuses this time on one of the workshop participant and make this movie a social thriller. That young man is indeed disturbing for everybody - and quite disturbed.

Some scenes are working well, and we cannot deny that an artist trying not to repeat itself is a good thing. However the best scenes in my opinion still are the group scenes and the combination of thriller and social movie does not intertwin always completely and are sometimes working againts each other (the thriller loosened by the social part and vice versa).

The social topics are really topical, and relevant, and addresses quite well the issues young underprivileged women and men can meet in our society. It doesn't bring answers, it shows. It makes it possible for the spectator to try the different shoes the movie's characters are. In that regard, the movie is a success.

Wry French Social Drama!

[spookyrat1 · 7/10 · 19 June 2020]

Trust the French to make a cleverly, realistic piece set largely amidst a creative writing workshop. I somehow couldn't imagine the Americans doing it. I haven't seen any of writer/director Laurent Cantet's earlier work, but I gather The Workshop is similar in construction to his earlier feature The Class.

Olivia, a well-known Parisian crime thriller novelist, is hired to run a summer creative writing workshop with a group of seven young people of mixed heritage in La Ciotat, a former coastal industrial town of some note, near Marseille in the South of France. As events play out, the most literary talented of the group is the black sheep; a loner by the name of Antoine whose thinking is influenced by a heavy right-wing ideology gained by primarily watching postings on various social media platforms. He makes writing proposals that others, including Olivia at times, consider shocking, but she becomes determined to investigate the contributing factors to Antoine's creative spark. Simultaneously, Antoine seeks to learn more about his teacher's social circumstances and is not backward in coming forward to cast a critical eye over her work.

The processes behind the setting up of the workshop are (deliberately) not really spelt out. But it's suggested that it may be some sort of local government initiative to engage disadvantaged youth. Whatever the reasons, a good number of the group, especially most of the males, initially exhibit a fair amount of reluctance to actually contribute much and are openly envious of the comfortable lifestyle, they feel their tutor enjoys. We understand that since the winding up of the ship-building industry, that was the economic backbone of La Ciotat some decades before, prospects of worthwhile careers in the town have been slim.

The goal Olivia eventually sets the seven, is to jointly compose a novel set in their depressed hometown. They decide to write a thriller, but apart from Antoine, no-one else really has any strong ideas about what direction it should take. Antoine's thoughts encompassing disturbing paeans to violence with strong racist overtones, are criticised by the rest. Olivia, whilst seeking to quash open conflict amongst the group, does see an honesty in Antoine's writing that she thinks she should attempt to employ in her own work.

The latter half of the movie evolves into a kind of thriller itself, as the 2 protagonists, all but stalk one another, in various nocturnal escapades that appear to grow increasingly dangerous, especially to Olivia. Thankfully, and this is not really spoiling, the finale is distinctly unthriller-like and in my opinion is intelligently somewhat upbeat. The big takeaway from The Workshop is that majority group think is not always the best path to follow and that the odd man out, may well have a message worth listening to, even in an ameliorated format.

The acting is particularly good, especially since the workshop group were all non-professionals. Marina Foïs as Olivia, is very convincing, as the successfully experienced writer, who gradually comes to the realisation, through not always pleasant interactions with her student, that her own writing style leaves room for self-improvement. The symbolism behind the regular scenes of Antoine swimming is somewhat unclear to me; perhaps they allude to the final surprising scenes of the movie.

The Workshop is obviously not the sort of film that will rock everyone's boat. It is both cerebral and deals with social issues relevant to France, a country with large minority immigrant groups and sub-cultures. But it does boast an original, quite engaging storyline, though in offering it up, Laurent Cantet may be guilty to an extent, of repeating himself.

Had Potential

[westsideschl · 6/10 · 9 March 2019]

The storyline concerns a successful novelist who is hired to come to a French town experiencing a post shipbuilding industrial decline to give a workshop to a half dozen young adults (late teens/early 20s) on developing writing/creative thinking skills. Not clear if it's to help develop the youth's futures, or to become writers, or learn cooperative skills, or become well adjusted. The author encourages them to "Do research to make your fiction more real." Good potential for some insight on writing, but what we get for the movie is a lot of immature antagonistic aggressive back and forth from the group which leads me to believe the movie is more about exposing the differences amongst them (racial, gender, religious, political). Some cooperative understanding did surface, but a lot was left unclear which probably mirrors life.

Realist anti-thriller

[igneosgeos · 7/10 · 18 September 2022]

I think this film is trying to to make a contrast between slick, unreal thrillers and reality. I get a sense of the storyline at the end being improvised so that I never knew what might happen. I was impressed but it wasn't my normal type of film, hence a 7 but could have been 8.

Although I did like the scenes of the main character swimming, I don't know that they were necessary. The other students in the workshop could have been more involved, instead they acted like they were bored, there were possibilities missed for conflict that could have deepened the plot. Overall, I liked the film, it was a view into French life that you don't often see.

French cultural introspective

[TimelessFlight · 6/10 · 20 February 2024]

This French language film is a slow-paced, introspective, social and psychological study.

A group of young adults, all largely unlikeable for the most part, are brought together on a creative writing course as part of a social project. Their tutor/mentor is a middle aged, middle class female author from Paris who seemingly has not much in common with them.

She is charged with inspiring the group to write a novel - a crime thriller - as a way of developing their character, confidence and self worth. The setting is a French coastal town that has perhaps seen better days, its past industrial shipbuilding prowess now just a memory.

Arguments among the group are quick to surface, and are mainly based on race, politics and prospects. The film clearly sets out to use these group conflicts to raise French cultural issues, and while that is perfectly legitimate it does seem at times that these arguments surface without a great deal of provocation or resolution.

As the group dynamics develop, the film focuses on the relationship between the teacher, Olivia, and one particularly troubled young man, Antoine. Dabbling in far right politics and militia, he appears to have issues with isolation and violence and is evermore on the fringes of the group.

Olivia and Antoine become more intensely interested in each other, and the film does a very good job of keeping us guessing where their relationship is headed. There are sexual tensions, threats of violence and mutual (unhealthy) intrigue building between them in equal measure as the film progresses, and this adds a dose of intensity and drama into what otherwise is a fairly uneventful social study.

Overall, this is a well made though somewhat flat study of political and cultural issues in France, lightly exploring things such as race, immigration, the far right, liberalism and de-industrialisation. The film is lifted by the psychological drama between troubled Antoine and articulate Olivia, but for the most part remains a passable social commentary that raises some interesting cultural questions - in particular the prospects for young adults who may feel out of touch with an ever changing France.

Very much a film for those who like to think about political and social concerns rather than feast on fast paced action.

It gets better and better

[baharuka · 8/10 · 1 June 2020]

The movie begins in a small town, at a writing course, with creating an exceptionally realistic atmosphere surrounding French youth of different backgrounds and mindsets, with the addition of a cosmopolitan writer from Paris who is their course instructor. All actors give natural and brilliant performances. Then the movie focuses more and more on one French guy with far-right associations and the instructor. Very well done character study in my opinion. The thrilling turn the second half takes surprised me and the ending satisfied me. Not a typical big screen movie but I think it would be very watchable for most viewers.

The usual unfathomable French drama

[Vindelander · 7/10 · 24 August 2022]

It's oh so French and whilst I'm a real Francophile it really doesn't go anywhere and ends very slowly. That said, it's atmospheric and at least reminded me of the huge difference in the French and British psyche when it comes to all forms of art.

Vive la différence.

Al menos el director es coherente. At least the director is coherent

[Andres-Camara · 4/10 · 21 October 2018]

Es coherente con hacer todo su cine igual. Es demasiado larga. No va a ningún sitio. Las secuencias son interminables. Cuenta lo mismo todo el rato.

En esta llegamos a coger otro camino, pero luego no sé por qué, no lo usa. El tema se queda en la nada.

En la primera secuencia ya sabes por donde va a ir, cuando la secuencia se empieza a repetir y no termina nunca, cuando ves la iluminación que tiene y la forma de rodar. Va a ser coherente con su cine. Tengo que ver más, me imagino lo que veré.

Los actores muy bien. Seguro que como dije en "La clase" no son profesionales. La iluminación, a que no tiene iluminación. Ya decía yo

No entiendo por qué esa manía de rodar una mesa con gente hablando como si estuviesen en un bombardeo. No tiene lógica, pero claro es que toda la película esta así, da igual lo que cuente, todo se rueda igual de mal. Es larga, larga, aunque sin rumbo. Aburre mucho.

Voy a ver más, pero sé que me aburriré.

It is consistent with doing all your movies the same. It is too long It does not go anywhere. The sequences are endless. Tell the same thing all the time.

In this we get to take another road, but then I do not know why, do not use it. The subject remains in nothingness.

In the first sequence you know where you are going to go, when the sequence begins to repeat and never ends, when you see the lighting that you have and the way you roll. You will be consistent with your movies. I have to see more, I imagine what I will see.

The actors very well. Surely as I said in "The class" are not professionals. Illumination, to which it has no illumination. I already said

I do not understand why this mania of rolling a table with people talking as if they were in a bombing. It has no logic, but of course the whole movie is like that, no matter what counts, everything is just as bad. It's long, long, but aimless. It bores a lot.

I'll see more, but I know I'll get bored.

So deep so much detalis.

[AhmedMw2 · 8/10 · 16 January 2019]

The movie gives attention to the small details to the things that dont cross your mind the final writing of Antoine says a lot about life . it is the still scene we always living in convert everything from its beauty to boredom .

The acting so good . the writing is so good and escaped successfully from being boring movie talk about life to movie makes you think a lot about things .

Much Ado About Nothing

[crumpytv · 2/10 · 10 September 2022]

Much Ado About Nothing, a cliché, I know, but it sums this film up.

The Road to Nowhere or The Event that Never Happened, would also be apt.

Billed as a psychological thriller, well, a thriller it is not and the only real psychology was left for the last 10 minutes.

Up until then it was boring and seemed to be leading to a significant event, which never actually transpired.

Essentially it was a rites of passage for one character.

Overall, pretty forgettable.

The scene is set one Summer in La Ciotat, a town near Marseille which used to be prosperous thanks to its huge dockyard but has been in decline since its closing 25 years before.

Still waiting.

[kieronpconnolly · 8/10 · 24 August 2022]

Well, this workshop worked for this Irish viewer. And I'm thinking of another Irishman who would possibly agree; its tone, pace, and total lack of urgency, would have done Sam proud as he waited for Godot or whatever bus is coming next. Words spoken/ unspoken, it was all in a look, as the participants in the workshop tried to make sense of life, and matters related. And the two leads? Ah yes, now that's what you call acting.

French situation described with nerve and intelligence

[OJT · 8/10 · 30 December 2018]

Not unlike Laurent Cantet's famous movie "Entre les murs", this new one "The Workshop" (Originally "L'atelier", the film takes us to a class with different personalities. In both films we meet a group of French teenagers, brought together under the supervision of a teacher. Location is a French southern coastal town not far from Marseilles, La Ciotat, a town on the Mediterranean coast, which is beautifully filmed.

The Workshop starts off with a class i creative writing which is to make the script of a thriller novel, and develops into a story which seem to spiral out of control due to one of the students, Antoine, which is a smart guy, but with obvious right wing thoughts when it comes to politics, though he says politics isn't of interest.

La Ciotat is a port yard town in decline, but with nostalgic memories of its important past. The town is almost as a player in this itself, and when an elegant Parisian author Olivia Dejazet, great played by Marina Foïs, the student in the workshop finds her a snob. Dejazet is intrigued by the loner Antoine, with provocative attitude at the workshop. Antoine is brilliantly played by Matthieu Lucci, which is soon the main character in the movie. I won't tell more, except that it all spins out of control, and the film's best part is the tension and the question you start asking yourself.

I would say this film in a very good way discusses the problems of modern French society today, with the start tensions which should be a huge concern. The film also refers to the Bataclan massacre, the Norwegian right winged terrorist Behring Breivik and his massacres as well as the truck driving terror incidents. Terrorism is not all a muslim activity.

Political yes, but also a psychological drama between strong characters, and a French society under the microscope. I found the movie exiting in three ways. First what was going to happen, secondly what I would have done as the teacher, and thirdly the way the film takes up this discussion. I love that fact. the film is intelligent, and worth all the praise it's got from critics.

Back to the classroom

[paul2001sw-1 · 8/10 · 28 August 2022]

Laurent Cantet's 'The Classroom' was an outstanding film, semi-improvised with non-actors, about the difficulties faced by a teacher working with disaffected kids. He's back on not disimilar territory with 'The Workshop'. A creative writing class is arranged for a group of unemployed youth in a beautiful but deindustrialised region of France. Here, the setup and the interactions between teacher and class are slightly more forced; but the dialogue is once again compelling, and it's stitched together in a nice story where one of the students, an intelligent but undereducated young man, learns (almost despite himself) to express his alienation in words. Cantet is great at extracting strong performances from his mostly non-professional cast; in spite of the contrivance, I found it compelling.