Laurent Cantet is of one France's leading contemporary directors. In a
series of important films, including Human Resources, Time Out, Heading
South, The Class and Foxfire, he takes stock of the modern world from
the workplace, through the schoolroom and the oppressive small town to
the world of international sex tourism. His films drive the hidden
forces that weigh on individuals and groups into view but also show
characters who are capable of reflection and reaction. If the films make
their protagonists rethink their place in the world, they also challenge
the positions of the viewer and the director. This is what makes them so
worthy of study.
Combining a fine eye for detail with broad contextual awareness, this
book gives an account of all Cantet's works, from the early short films
to the major works. Martin O'Shaughnessy is a leading international
writer on French cinema, especially in film and politics.