Screened as part of NZIFF 2008

Let's Say... 2007

On dirait que...

Directed by Françoise Marie

What do kids think their parents do at work? French filmmaker Françoise Marie gets fascinating, often funny answers by having kids act out their parents' work days. "A real charmer." — Variety

France In French with English subtitles
82 minutes 35mm

Director

Screenplay

Françoise Marie
,
Corinne Spodek

Photography

Gérard de Battista
,
Pierre Boffety

Editors

Laure Blancherie
,
Christianne Lack

Music

Léon Milo

Festivals

Rome 2007

Elsewhere

What do kids think their parents do at work? Filmmaker Françoise Marie gets fascinating, often funny answers by having kids from different areas of France and different ethnic backgrounds act out their parents' work days. First asked to rank various professions in order of importance, the children are then invited individually to describe the jobs done by their parents. These include farmers, doctors, policemen and circus performers. Finally, provided with simple costumes and sets, the children create skits based on those occupations. Some of the views expressed are whimsical, others show surprising sophistication. The farmers' children, for example, would be much more competent at delivering a calf than 90% of their elders. The children tackle the role-playing with gusto, often quite solemnly, but sometimes delighting in screwing up. — BG

"A touching, telling documentary... the film emerges from, and contributes to, a debate about the social ramifications of the educational system that is particularly lively in France." — Lee Marshall, Screendaily