La Syndicaliste
Directed by Jean-Paul Salomé
An investigative thriller set in the world of nuclear power and politics, La Syndicaliste follows the true story of Maureen Kearney (Isabelle Huppert), the influential head union representative of a French multinational nuclear powerhouse. A deft navigator of elite political and financial circles, Maureen becomes a whistleblower when she discovers international backroom dealings, exposing secrets that shook the French nuclear sector. Fighting against government ministers and industry leaders, Maureen worked tirelessly to bring the scandal to light and defend thousands of jobs until she was violently sexually assaulted in her own home, seemingly targeted for her attempts to reveal the truth. As her attack is investigated, new elements create doubt in the minds of detectives and lawyers, and they begin to see Maureen not as a victim, but as a suspect. Surrounded by powerful enemies and unable to trust anyone, Maureen must fight to clear her name.
Reviews
“A politically tinged back room drama of shifting power hierarchies… [Huppert] taps into a level of vulnerability rarely seen throughout her vast filmography.”
“A vehicle for Huppert’s talents…she commands your attention with feverish focus and urgency”
“Maureen Kearney’s story is unbelievable... played with an electric stillness by the great Isabelle Huppert… who can convey an ocean of feeling with the twitch of an eyebrow.”
“Derives its power from the knowledge that this shocking story actually happened.”
“Well-paced and impressively constructed. Explores the dangerously obsessive and addictive nature of power and… conveys to perfection the violence that can break out at any time in the seemingly smooth world of business.”