Review for ‘‘La Zingara et Les Jeunes Gens’’ by Julia Ducrocq

Where do the paths of a prophetic cleaning lady at a large firm, a group of ambitious and arrogant young marketing yuppies and a union organizer cross? At the heart of Julia Ducrocq's short La Zingara et Les Jeunes Gens (The Bohemian and the Young People). The title being a play on one of Jean de la Fontaine's fables betrays the film's satyrical & teaching nature.

The short's central plot revolves around the launch of a new product and the closure of one of the company's factories and subsequent layoff of staff. The writer/director not-so-subtly lampoons and criticizes most everyone involved, from the conceited and short-sighted young marketers, to the heartless and greedy executives, and, most interestingly, the apathetic union representative who betrays his role and slumps into luben complacency. Although the script and the symbolism are neither discrete nor complex, the surrealist dialogue and performances, especially by the oracle-janitor, carry the message across.

On the production side, Ducrocq has crafted a beautifully imagined, shot and edited film, that boasts vibrant colors, great costumes, and psychedelic, lynchian editing at times. The visual aptitude speaks to the director's expertise at music videos, and the mix of the two works in favor of the short. Music and sound design are effective,but definitely don't shine as bright as the cinematography and visuals.

In summary, the modern-day take on de la Fontaine's fable "Swallow and the little birds" is a scathing satire of modern corporate culture, capitalism, populism, the luben proletariat, and the arrogant hipster mindset prevalent in business and the arts. Delightfully bright and funny, it is slightly let down by the dialogue and lack of subtlety, without however ceasing to be a great watch.