The Ballad of Marie Nord and Her Clients (2008)

Media (3)

Marie is a social worker in an immigrant dense suburb. Outside her daily work she runs a youth center, leads courses and functions as parole officer for young Belem who has served time in a correctional center. She also takes care of Belem’s son, Ray, when Ray’s mother is at work. Belem’s release from prison coincides with the appearance of an irritatingly nosy economist from the social services head quarters, curious about Marie’s impressing but costly work. As pressure mounts, Marie’s true feelings rise to the surface and her methods and motives are questioned. It’s a drama where passion, altruism, crime and hidden racism are intrinsically intertwined. The gliding perception of the main character is captured in the jarring but playful compositions and elaborate dialogue that turns the apparent kitchen sink realism into existential psycho-sink.

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