In the Beginning

In cinema, France is often presented as a hub of culture where all kinds of people are shown hanging around cafés while sipping huge quantities of café. They are represented on screen as living in nice houses with book shelves full of literature books. A l'Origine presents a completely different image of culturally rich France. It is a realistic portrayal of France especially in its apt depiction of all turmoil related to fragile job market. Director Xavier Giannoli shows a crook who has always remained reluctant as hesitant fear always shone on his face. As usual French actor François Cluzet is superb as a different type of crook- one who would not at all hesitate to put his personal, ill gotten wealth to let his project succeed. About François Cluzet it can be said that he has never attempted to become a 'star' as time and again his brilliant acting performances have assured him a permanent place in the realm of French cinema as an "actor of quality". Emmanuelle Devos' performance is amazing in a supporting role as a small town mayor who does not think much before falling for a hesitant conman. This film also features a minor yet essential performance by legendary French actor Gérard Depardieu. He would play a lead role in "Quand J'étais Un Chanteur" / When I was a singer directed by Xavier Giannoli. In the wake of numerous incidents of suicides by France Telecom employees who collapsed due to enormous work pressure, A l'Origine makes a lot of sense as a film which tries to find why some people would go to any extent to earn easy money. One needs to simply watch how a whole town has gone crazy with the sudden arrival of a conman with kids making paintings and a father sitting proudly with his son in a dump truck with people cheering them. This film is your chance to feel happy in life by watching giant trucks used in constructing highways.