The system works. Luca Belvaux on the eve of the presidential elections in France made an important and necessary film about the behind-the-scenes side of politics, where everyone recognizes Marie Le Pen and the National Front.
The north of France is one of the main regions, not only supporting the Front National, but also where party members occupy seats in the administration, where there is no opposition and pluralism, and people are tired of daily financial and social problems. Excellent conditions for creating radical sentiment. The main character, Pauline, has long lost herself caring for relatives and patients. But if she sees life in black and white tones of indistinguishable everyday life, then to others her life seems exactly what it needs: her mother worked all her life in the dining room and died of cancer, her father worked all her life in a factory, a single mother raising two children, a nurse who everyone knows and loves in the whole district - such as everyone else, "his", an ideal candidate. So, in an attempt to change his life for the better, justifying himself with the desire to help others, Pauline becomes a blonde, that is, a candidate in the municipal elections, sorry.
True, such expected happiness does not come, if not vice versa - Pauline loses the little that warmed her heart. And along with the cold words, "You don't belong to yourself anymore." Now you represent the party, the sobering up begins to come that it was chosen to lose and others to gain. The film manages, albeit with large strokes, but to show how the electoral machine works, the refinement of its mechanism and cynicism. It may be a little caricatured, but the idea conveys clearly and clearly. And most importantly, it makes you think about your choice and remember the latest arguments during political discussions.
At the meeting, the director said that everything shown in the film is true. Many stories were taken from real life. For example, a scene where children attack a woman for trying to rip off a poster did happen to the actress, very frightening her. He also spoke about the reaction to the film from the National Front and their attempts to discourage the desire of viewers to watch it, which on the contrary speaks more in his favor.
“Chez nous” clearly shows how politicians use ordinary people, how they use their naivety and belief in the best, how easy it is to blind voters and infect them with an idea. How this idea can zombify even children, pushing them to hatred and aggression. And how difficult it is to sober up after, because with the realization of everything, terror and fear will replace euphoria.