Red Soil

I watched the lead actress, Zita Hanrot, in her Cesear winning role, "Fatima" and in the Netflix romantic comedy TV show, "Plan Couer", so it was interesting to see her tackling workplace corruption as an ecological whistleblower in a small French village.

Nour (Hanrot) is an occupational nurse who is hired at a local chemical plant where her father has worked as a safety manager for many years. She takes the job her father secured for her, after being fired as an ER nurse for a judgement call (that turned out to be the only decision she could make). And much of the film follows the idea that the right call is the only choice even when it will impact other people negatively. Nour's decisions will impact her family but will bring attention to widespread corruption and workplace safety.

Hanrot is a really dynamic actress who handles the film's dramatic material really well. Having seen her in comedic roles, this was a nice look at her range as a performer. The supporting cast is equally good, in particular, Nour's father, who himself has no choice but to fall in line with the corruption or risk losing his job and his relationship with his daughter.

Critics gave this film mixed reviews but French films tend to be reserved and slow burning. If you're expecting loud and commanding performances like in Julia Robert's Oscar winning role in "Erin Brockovich" you won't find it here.