OUISTREHAM/ BETWEEN TWO WORLDS

France, 2021, 106 minutes, Colour.

Juliette Binoche, Helene Lambert, Lea Carne.

Directed by Emmanuel Carrere.

This film is a documentary through fiction. It is based on an actual character, a writer, interested in social issues, posing as a woman unemployed, the difficulties of getting jobs, the hard work, the encounter with the other workers, men and women.

Juliette Binoche is very effective in the central role, Marianne, credible as a professional woman stating that she had left her husband, had no work experience, needed a job, filling in the forms, creating a background story. Then there is the issue of accommodation, applications for jobs, filling in forms, interviews, demands made. And there are scenes of work, hard work in cleaning rooms in hotels, toilets, making up beds. And the action then moves to the ferry from Caen to Southhampton in the time available for the cleaning staff to remake all the berths.

Marianne finds the work demanding but also bonds with some of the fellow workers, especially an angry young woman whom she had seen making demands at the employment office. They become friends, the young woman has three children and there are happy scenes of a birthday party, on the beach. The film highlights a number of other characters, especially young woman, Marylou, and a middle-aged man, Cedric, who is attracted to Marianne and invites her out on various occasions.

Gradually, the audience is aware of Marianne set up, and aware of the difficulties when the truth is revealed and her book written and published. This is especially the case with the young woman who, by chance, his present when Marianne is exposed.

However, the book is written, published, there is a reading and signing with most of the characters present – but Marylou coming to ask Marianne to visit the young woman who has read the book but asks Marianne to join her in cleaning on the ferry. Marianne declines.

1. Documentary through fiction? The task of the author, immerse herself with the workers, share their experiences, report them? The repercussions for her personal relationships?
2. The city of Caen, Port, streets and buildings, the ferries, the wharfs? Offices, homes, hotels, rooms to be cleaned? The beach and the sea? Time off and restaurants? The musical score?
3. The introduction, the employment agency, Chrystele and her demands, abusing the official? Marianne, observing? Her own interview, job application, her story, moving to the north, leaving her husband, legal background, not having work experience? The interview with the man hiring for the company, his demands?
4. Cedric, the encounters, his friendship, his story, jobs, hitting on Marianne, her following him, at work, discussions about the relationship? The later revelation of his other friendship?
5. Jobs, applications, documents, cleaning, official names, the hotels, the hard work, the group of workers, their backgrounds? Marianne meeting the various women, the job with the ferries, the interview with the boss, her demands, the various other women, Marylou and her age, boyfriend, lack of experience? Chrystele, the initial encounter, her background, the three children? Marianne making friends, the necklace from Chrystele? The drinks together, friendship, going to the house, the children and the meals, the birthday cake and singing, the scenes on the beach?
6. The details of the work, the time limits, four minutes to remake the rooms on the ferry? The scenes of work, the consequences, the women tired? The world to the woman who had the new job (and the discussion about trends men and women)?
7. The effect on Marianne, the gradual revelation of the truth about her, audience suspicions and wariness? The woman from the office, having read her book? Keeping the secret?
8. The buildup, Marianne and her writing, the experiences? Having to keep up appearances?
9. The women trapped on the ferry, trying to get out, the ferry leaving, going upstairs, Marianne encountered her friends, exposing the truth, Chrystele and her reaction?
10. The publication of the book, the launch, most of the women being present? Marylou, the message from Chrystele? Marianne going, the encounter, Chrystele having read the book, inviting her onto the ferry to work? Marianne not going?
11. Social situation amongst the unemployed, women finding employment difficult, the heart conditions, cleaners? The effect of this kind of expose?