The Measure of a Man (French: La Loi du marché) is a 2015 French drama film directed by Stéphane Brizé. It was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.[2][3] At Cannes, Vincent Lindon won the award for Best Actor[4][5] and the film won a commendation awarded by the Ecumenical Jury.[6]
| The Measure of a Man | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Film poster | |
| Directed by | Stéphane Brizé |
| Written by | Stéphane Brizé Olivier Gorce |
| Produced by | Christophe Rossignon Philip Boëffard |
| Starring | Vincent Lindon |
| Cinematography | Éric Dumont |
| Edited by | Anne Klotz |
Production companies | Nord-Ouest Films Arte France Cinéma |
| Distributed by | Diaphana Distribution |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 93 minutes |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
| Box office | $6 million[1] |
Plot
Thierry has been unemployed for 18 months, having lost his job as a factory worker. At the age of 51, he lands a new job as a security guard in a supermarket. However, he must spy on his co-workers at the behest of his boss.
Cast
- Vincent Lindon as Thierry Taugourdeau
- Yves Ory as Employment agency counsellor
- Karine De Mirbeck as Thierry's wife
- Matthieu Schaller as Thierry's son
- Xavier Mathieu as Union colleague
- Noël Mairot as Dance teacher
- Catherine Saint-Bonnet as banker
Reception
Critical reception
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 91% based on 57 reviews, and an average rating of 7.4/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "With The Measure of a Man, director/co-writer Stéphane Brizé uses one man's heartrending story as a beautifully acted microcosm for life in the 21st-century global economy."[7] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 74 out of 100, based on 19 critics.[8]
Accolades
| Award / Film Festival | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brussels Film Festival[9] | Audience Award | Won | |
| Cannes Film Festival[2] | Best Actor | Vincent Lindon | Won |
| Prize of the Ecumenical Jury - Special Mention | Won | ||
| Palme d'Or | Nominated | ||
| César Awards[10] | Best Film | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Stéphane Brizé | Nominated | |
| Best Actor | Vincent Lindon | Won | |
| Denver Film Festival[11] | Special Ensemble Acting Jury Award | Cast of The Measure of a Man | Won |
| European Film Awards[12] | European Actor | Vincent Lindon | Nominated |
| Louis Delluc Prize[13] | Best Film | Nominated | |
| Lumières Awards[14] | Best Actor | Vincent Lindon | Won |
| Prix Jacques Prévert du Scénario | Best Original Screenplay | Stéphane Brizé and Olivier Gorce | Nominated |
