Life the Way It Is

Jean-Claude Brisseau protege of Eric Rohmer-began his filmmaking career with this gritty story of working women in the modern world. Originally shot on 16mm for French TV, it may be the filmmaker's most radical film, with it's images of suicide, group violence, and sexual pressure. Agnes Tessier leaves the comfortable confines of school to work in a slum district with her friend Florence. In her job at the chemical factory, she discovers that the working world can be difficult for women who must endure sexual harassment, harsh conditions, and volatile coworkers. She becomes the union rep for her factory to challenge the status quo.