Sweet Spot Studio

Last time I saw it I was a teen. In France. I just watched it again. It’s a masterpiece. The casting features actors who went on to become lions in the annals of French cinematography. The music is by Stephane Grapelli. That is reason alone to watch it. “Les Valseuses” captures a moment in French history when society began to question the neatly packaged republican order and christian morals that prevailed since the end of WWII. Like most societal changes in Europe, the French flower power era started about 10 years after the US. Our wake up call was May1968. In this tumultuous times a new kind of disenfranchised youth emerges, in search of authenticity, disillusioned by materialism and consumerism. Socialism and Communism become very trendy. Our 2 main protagonists are complex and multi layered. They both mature greatly throughout the movie. At first they appear to be your typical lowlife hoodlums. We struggle to find anything appealing about either of them. Slowly, through small phrases or gestures, we come to see their humanity. If you are burdened by wokeness this film is not for you. It was shot in 1974 and captures many aspects of French/Western culture at that time. This includes behaviors we would find misogynistic today. Yet who can deny the damaged souls on display are very real and exist to this day. I find it powerful to see these flawed characters on screen. Even more powerful is the way they form a bond that is healing and nurturing. With the benefit of hindsight I can appreciate how many lines from this movie became common parlance throughout the 80s. Some didn’t but are simply priceless. “Décontracté du Gland”… Gold, I tell you. And what about that ending!? Ha! This ain’t Hollywood baby!

We are proud to have taken part in the production of this movie. It's a stirring cry for decency and justice in corporate America and an inspiring example of courage and determination.