"Our economies are based on finance not labor." "In the last decade, the 500 largest firms have sacked some four-million people and increased profits." "When Xerox sacked 10,000 people its shares leapt 9%." "Yeah?" "If I sell it for 12,000, it won't pay off my loan, but..." "Yes, 9,000." "Yes." "It's listed as 11,300 in the Redbook." "The Redbook doesn't give cheques." "I will." "I've two in stock already, new models..." "When I bought it, you said you'd buy it back if need be." "I'm really happy to see you." "I'm giving you a good price." "Trust me." " Yes?" " Absolutely." "THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FRIDGE" "Jean Chrétien says the government is trying to find people jobs." "Even if it's not productive, it would be better than drinking beer at home." "Remember you asked me why I agreed to do this film?" "Think I found it." "I agreed to do it because you're my roommate, because you'll help me pay the rent, plus it will be fun." "You know, the film ends..." "It ends when I die!" "It could have ended now." "It ends when I find a job, right?" "But we don't know when that will be." "It'll be like a thriller." "Hi, Bu." "Everything okay, Christophe?" "Coming for the newspaper?" " Stéphane!" " Welcome." "One milk, the paper..." "I kept last Wednesday's paper for you." "The job section." "Really?" "That's really nice." "Thank you very much." "But I already read it." "Doesn't matter." "That's $3.52, please." ""Mechanical engineer." "You're a qualified engineer with five years' experience..."" "That's me so far." ""... with knowledge of automated food-processing technology..."" "That spoils it." ""... and the programming of Cegelec machines." ""You are a good trainer." "You know IX-86 and the AC speed regulations."" "You dream of building jet engines, but they offer you food freezing or corrugated iron and expect you to speak Swahili." "The postman brings me" "My unemployment benefit" "I telephone everywhere" "To see if there's any openings" "It's boring sitting here" "And wearing my butt thin" "If it continues" "I'll be soon on the streets" "But you don't want to work" "Work: n. - c.1 21 0; from the Latin tripalium, "torture instrument."" "I'm here for an interview." "Does Mr. Fortier know about the camera?" "I wonder who's being interviewed, apart from me." "Who are all those people?" "Does someone desperately want the job?" "Does someone need it more than me?" "Does someone want me dead?" "Maybe they don't care either." "What about you?" "Me?" "I'll tell you honestly." "I'm not too hot on the idea of making dryer filters." "Why don't you wear your ring permanently?" "First, I don't think it's very nice." "Secondly, I'm not married to the engineers' guild." "Mr. Bálanger?" " Hello." " How are you?" "So will you take the job if they offer it to you?" "I'm not really that interested." "If something else came up as well, I'd consider it too." "That's fine if you have a choice." "But you don't." "You're out of work." "So would you take it?" "If a company decides to modify a product's packaging" "PHILIPPE THIBAULT engineer, $44,000 a year it has to make changes to its factory." "My job as an engineer is to order the parts or have them made and to test them." "What?" "I think you have a good attitude, but you're bohemian." "Bohemian?" "I'm waiting." "Listen." "If I commit myself to something that I consider mediocre that prevents me taking something that might be better." "For reasons X, Y, Z, sanitary napkins have changed shape slightly." "So the cut is different and the blades must be changed." "Well, the sanitary towel..." "you say it's important." "It is useful." "But periodically." "I mean, it's periodically necessary." "It's more depressing if you modify a drive valve... for a hair pin, or something." "You can't get attached to a job like that." "It's too pathetic." "What got you interested in engineering?" "I've listened to you all afternoon and you don't seem to like it." "You have nice teeth." "What?" "You must eat a lot of apples." "You know apples are good for the teeth?" "Who's he?" "My roommate." "But he can't talk to you." "What's he doing?" "Making a film about job-hunting." "Oh." "For the news?" "Is it for TV?" "No." "It's a documentary, not a reportage." "Who's interested in that?" "Who'd go and see it?" "Good question." "I don't really know." "Not you, I guess." "Oh..." "You get paid for that?" "Handsomely." "Hello." "Yes, it's me." "Yes." "No." "I called about an extension." "I don't know why you didn't get it." "I phoned." "It was the bank." "I'm behind with my payments." "I called them specially to make an arrangement." "Why bother calling if messages aren't passed on?" "Do they use  telegrams?" "Some people don't feel unemployed." "It's not a trait." "If you're out of work, you're unemployed." "It goes together." "You're here for three reasons:" "for preventive reasons," "CHRISTINE O'NEIL Defending the Unemployed because you don't get benefits and want to contest it, or you've made a false declaration." "Now you'll tell me, "I didn't know how to fill out the card."" "I know all that." "That's not how the government sees it." "You know the government says it wants to reduce fraud?" "In its eyes, you're fraudsters." "We say the system isn't fair." "I'm here to help you with your rights." "Who shall we start with?" "Anything particular?" "I resigned because my boss wanted to move me to a post that didn't suit me." "Okay." "So arbitration ruled on it." "Do you have the ruling?" "No, there was no ruling." "I thought I wasn't entitled to benefits." "Ah, okay." "You didn't ask for benefits." "Okay, how long ago was this?" "Just over four months ago." "You're not in a hurry, are you?" "But it's not too late." "You must go to the office and make a demand for retroactive benefits." "Uh... you had worked continuously for...?" "Uh... you had worked continuously for...?" " Seven years." " Super." "No problem." "Your employment records say you left voluntarily." "Was your ex-boss prepared to keep you?" "Yes." "My division was cut." "He moved me to Quality Control." "It didn't suit my abilities." "I consider it a breach of a contract." "Ah, ah, okay." "That's not the same thing." "Were you on a fixed-term contract?" "No, no, I was an employee, but I considered it a moral breach, if you like." "Okay, morals." "Now that's a grey area." "Why a grey area?" "Yes." "The other day we had a shop assistant who worked in a meat department." "She became Jewish and didn't want to touch ham." "So she quit." "What do we do?" "We look at multicultural and ethnic rights." "The lot." "You see?" "That's what I mean by "grey area."" "Did you write a letter of resignation?" "Yes." "Okay." " Shouldn't I have?" " We'll look into it." "If it's negative, you can still appeal to the Arbitration Court." "Huh?" "Is the job-hunting going okay?" "Yes." "But it's hard finding something interesting." "Yeah." "You must be patient." "And sometimes you need to re-orient yourself and take a different approach." "I was an actor before." "Ah...!" ""The Decline."" "DANIEL BRIÁRE, actor "The Decline of the American Empire"" "And after "The Decline"?" "If you don't mind." "Oh, after "The Decline"?" "There was a kind of peak, but then it was calm again." "The graph shows, uh... the unemployed person's general condition." "The shock, the loss of work, then there's immediately a big fall, then the euphoria of change, because people are a bit shattered." "They think things are better." "There you see the fall after the little pink area and the disorientation." "I think that's where you are." "A little disoriented, but that's normal." "Then you'll feel discouraged, but don't worry." "Roger, line 2." "Roger, line 2." "A marshmallow sandwich." "Ever seen that before?" "I hadn't." "To avoid eating such things, stuff your belly before going shopping." "You spend less and you don't buy things that you can eat right away." "Junk food, basically." "She's here!" "Don't look!" "Sorry." "Is that new?" "I mean your..." "Your...?" "Your... eyebrow ring?" "No, I've had it for ages." "but Roger the boss doesn't like it." " Roger the boss." " Roger the boss." "The nice boss." "Your friend Roger." "I thought of you this week." " Really?" " Mm-hmm." "Pop Tarts were on special offer." "Ah!" "My secret vice." "Don't tell me." "I'm trying to quit." "Look." "I mustn't buy them." "But you remembered?" " Mm-hmm." "Cash?" " Yes." "No!" "Uh..." "Interact!" "You've reached Stéphane and Christophe, please leave a message." "Bye." "Hi." "This is Gilles Dionne." "I have a message for Stéphane Demers." "I've looked at your application for funding for your documentary on your flat mate." "People aren't crazy about unemployment, but your intimate approach is interesting." "Let's meet up." "I may start by getting you a soundman." "Call me." " Rolling." " Okay." "Sound running?" "Code 28 for Cash 24." "What's work like?" "You're president of Bombardier yet?" "No, no." "It's like a seduction game." "They make you hot, then never call." "And you don't call if you're interested?" "I'm the kind that starts dialing and then hangs up." "Look, I'll show you." "It's really not difficult." "Then you continue." " Ah, okay." "It is easy." "Ah, Canada and its wide-open spaces!" "Its caribou and its grizzlies!" "Its wild, man-eating beavers, its wild Indians chewing caribou intestines." "Real men, not like those rats caged in concrete!" "Real men faced with themselves, faced with moss." "Its moose hides!" "Moose hide when they're about to die, as everyone knows." "Will you really move that far away?" "Well, it's not Northern Ontario that attracts me, with its man-eating black flies  but the job." "Its high-tech airplane components..." "You know, design, research." "That's the kind of job... which gives you a hard-on in college!" "It'll do me good to get out and get immersed in this wonderful nature!" "What if they offer you the job right away?" "It'd be dumb to refuse." "It really interests you?" "I mean, it's not just a question of money?" "It's both." "Why?" "You going to pay me to stay unemployed?" "Do you know that Dawson Products is a branch of Grenon-Zermat, which controls West African Petroleum, supporting a dictatorship in Lagos?" " Ah, Stéphane!" "Stéph!" "Stop, damn you!" "I don't need to know that." "Not before the interview." "Your producer - he does advertising for Rike." "Did you check if any of its branches employ one-armed orphans in the Third World?" "Ever asked if the woman who sewed your jeans is well-paid with a good boss and dental insurance?" "Integrity has its limits." "No?" "Yes, you're right." "But I'm talking about your future bosses." "I'm talking about paying my next rent bill." "About making money." "You're okay." "Your father's rich." "So I can't say anything because my father's wealthy." "Don't ask me to carry the world on my shoulders, okay?" "I need that job, and I want to get it." "Instead of guilt-tripping me, see it as teamwork." "We're going there to find me a job, okay?" "Eh, Sylvain?" "That's what I need to hear." "Who's getting it?" " You!" " Pardon?" " You!" " Louder!" " You!" " Who's the best?" "!" "Chris!" "Now I feel supported." "Should have brought almonds." "Almonds?" "Yes, they're rich in magnesium;" "it cools the brain." "A bit like a car radiator." "Bet you read Trivial Pursuits cards in bed." "Why do you say that?" "It's for my education." "Not for cheating." " Sure." " Yes, sure!" " Christophe." " Yes?" "Close your jacket: it'll hide your mike and make you look more serious." "Cut!" " How did it go?" " You heard it too, didn't you?" " Yes, it was" " What's so funny?" "Sorry, it's nerves." "1999 Profits: $304 million" "Layoffs: 450 employees" "You're not cut out for Ontario." "NATHAN RUSSEL, CEO $350,000 a year" "Hey, want to stop at your sister's?" "Oh... my!" "Hi." " Have you lost weight?" " No." "You look good." "How did the interview go?" "Uh... it was all about fucking global market positioning." "I hope you told them that." "The leaves are going brown." "That gives me a week to 10 days to cover them with soil." " That's crazy!" " If there's a frost, I've had it." "And my tractor's broken." "Okay, yeah." "You have to cover them every year - it's crazy." " Yes, and I have to hurry, and my tractor's broken." "I know it's broken, but I'm no mechanic." "I'm a mechanical engineer, not a mechanic!" "I'm up shit creek here!" "It's urgent." " I'd like to help you." "It's not that I don't want to." "I can't." "I could draw the engine for you, could explain how a piston works in three dimensions, could draw or make it, but I can't say, "If it goes ding, your crankshaft is stuck!"" "Understand?" " Yeah." "If you need more money, there are lots of jobs here." "Have I told you that before?" " Yes." " Okay." "You know, the hardest thing... is not finding work, but finding a job." "What's the difference?" "You work to earn money, but a job is for living, to do what you like doing." "Okay." "In that case, I haven't had many jobs." "Nope." "You chose the wrong job and took 10 years to realize." "That's okay." "For now, you need to find a job and stop fiddling around." " Want me to work in a bar?" " Come on!" "I've done it before." "You're so contemptuous sometimes." "Hey." "You don't want to sell beer  and my tractor is too dirty for you!" " No, it's not too dirty." "No, no." " I hope you aren't paying him." "Uh... no, no, no." "Green." "Okay." ""Who invented the combine harvester?"" "Everyone knows that." "It's simple." "Mr. Combine Harvest!" "John McCormick?" " Yes!" " You're joking..." "You're joking." " In 1908." "You're joking." "You've read it before." "Look. "John McCormick, 1908."" "Don't bullshit me." "And the thingamajig?" "It was Claire Still Voight, in 1914!" "Come on!" "Yes, of course." "Yes, my credit limit." "No, I understand your rules, madam." "It's the way in which you apply them." "The least you could do is inform your clients!" "I'm raising my voice for a good reason." "I feel a little bit deceived." "At the moment, if I compare the service charges I pay and the interest rates you pay," "I end up paying you for making money off of my money!" "There's nothing to it." "You meet your bank manager as usual and we film it secretly." "Be careful where you put the suitcase so we can see her face." "Okay?" "Your credit limit is income-linked." "SUZANNE LAVOIE financial adviser" "I don't need loans when I have money, only when I haven't got any." "I'II show you my copy." " It's okay, I have your file here." "You use your credit limit to pay your car's installments?" "Yes, until my savings mature." "What are your sources of income?" "Well, at the moment, they are..." "Yes, your savings." "What else?" "Hey, watch my coffee!" "Oh, sorry!" "You know, credit is a privilege banks award to solid portfolios." "Yes, but when I graduated, you offered me a $14,000 credit limit." "I've hardly used it in seven years." "Now I need it, you're taking it away." "I don't understand." "Trust can be won and lost again." "The bank trusted you - now we must re-evaluate your case." "THE SIX MAJOR CANADIAN BANKS 1999 Profits: $3.7 billion" "Layoffs Announced: 6,000+" "NORMAN D BONIN, salesman $73,000 a year" "Have you been to other dealers?" "I advise you to do so." "You'll see this is a very fair price." "But it was $9,000 two weeks ago." "Your radiator didn't leak then." "It's an old model" " You knew it was an old model." "Sure I knew, but that doesn't change the facts." "I have to spend $1,000 on it." "Get it repaired, if you like." "I'd be happy for you." "Electrical and architectural acoustics are fascinating subjects, but I'd have to study again, and that's not possible." " Why?" " Because of my debts." "Ah, thank you!" "What did you do before?" "Oh, before?" "Not what I do now." "I was a vet." "You're a vet." "You were a vet?" "Here?" "No, in Vietnam - for cows and... animals." "Okay." "What happened?" "Why did you stop?" "Ah, my diploma isn't valid here." "You need lots of paperwork here." "Don't you miss working with animals?" "It's work." "We have to work, that's all." "Hi, there." "You didn't call me last time." "Still making the big report?" "Documentary." "Interested in people who buy noodles?" "Depends on the noodles you meet." "Okay..." "Won't be easy finding a job with that big leech stuck on you." "Looks like it." "Lots of carrots and little else." "That's it." "Here." "You're a painter?" "I'm inviting you." "Bring your clan along." "engineer: n. - c.1 556: from Old French engineer, "device, war machine"" "They test new medicines." "I spend three weeks in the clinic, they pay me $300." "Mostly I feel very little." "A bit drugged, but..." "You do that every week?" "No, you can't." "Once a month at most." "Because of the side-effects." "Right, right." " I can give you the number." " No, thanks." "Just a thought." "I was glad he invited me." "He never goes out." "Won't even let us buy him a drink." "He never mentioned Odile." "You still in the same job?" "Sanitary napkins?" "No." "What do you do?" "I'm into something else: clothespins." "You like it?" "I don't do it often: not every week." "Once a month at most." "There are side-effects." "I can give you the number." "No, thanks." "Just a thought!" "Good morning, Miss Odile." "I let you sleep." "Is that camera really necessary?" "My God, it'll never end." "It's a nightmare." "It's better when you are behind the camera." "They creak." "Different, eh?" "Is it his museum?" "Yeah." "Thousands of soldiers leave Tiananmen Square" "Quebec gives Goodyear $6. 8 million subsidy" "Re-conquering Chiapas" "Zapata's ghost" "Hey, what are you doing?" "It's fascinating." "Good morning." "Are you dead?" "No, not that one." "Mine's on the other side." "You're the "don't touch my milk" type?" "It's soy milk." "Look." "And a-one, a-two, one, two, three, four!" "Jesus I love you Come into my arms" "Jesus I love you" "Come close to me" "But be careful not to leave any stains" "Your hands and your forehead are bleeding" "What happened Oh" "I've been with the same theatre company for 5-6 years." "We write and stage plays." "We're preparing something for January." "They've been expecting my texts for ages." "They're probably pissed off." "You going to film me all day?" "Yes, why?" " Hi!" " How are you?" "Good." " Is Stéph here?" " Up there." "How's your film going that you act in?" "I'm not in it." "They're fooling around." ""A cannibal industrialist."" "That's good." "What is it?" "Cannibalism as a metaphor for capitalism?" "Is that it?" "It must be obvious, if you get it." "Obvious needn't mean good." "Okay... it's good." "It's... different." "What's your play about?" "It's about rites of passage." "It's like something human." "It's social." "It's less political, apolitical." "It's apolitical, but I think..." "Everything is political anyway." "Everything is everything, then." "But it needn't be political." " What about the third act?" "We can drop it." " No, don't." "I was just surprised to see that" " Don't you like it?" " No." "Why?" "Because you wrote while we were rehearsing?" "No." "I understand, but I don't care." "We asked for express delivery." "We've been waiting for 15 minutes." "Yes..." "We'll wait for you." "Thank you very much." "Goodbye." "Hello." " Everything okay?" "Yes, thanks." " This is what we shot last week." " Perfect." " Could we have 60-minute tapes?" " Certainly." "We'll get them." " Is Gilles here?" " No, Mr. Dionne went out." "You can wait in the editing suite." " Great." "Hello!" "I don't know you, but I often see you." "When he brings the tapes, all the girls watch them." "Really?" "Yeah." "It's gripping." "Like a soap opera." "We can't wait for the next one." "I think I like filmmaking." "Does it pay?" "Here." "For you." "Your unemployment benefit." "Ah." "Open it." "I can't do that." "It's your reply." "Open it and read it." " Okay." " Okay." "Let's go." ""Dear sir, we regret to inform you that we cannot pay your benefits." ""You quit your job voluntarily." "We believe the fact that...", blah, blah, blah." "I'm sorry." "Voluntarily?" "Think that's heroic?" " Heroic?" " Yeah." "You're really cool, Christophe!" "Don't you ever get mad?" "You should appeal." "Appeal?" "I need to find a job." "You're giving up?" "I hate it when you say that." "There are 14 reasons for justifiably quitting." "But the problem is, that an appeal can take long." "Someone like Christophe... doesn't identify with the unemployed." "After all, you're here in his place." "I'll bet he doesn't even know." "Get him to call." "Stéphane, it's Gilles." "I've got good news and bad news." "Voice of GILLES DIONNE, producer, Traction Avant" "The bad news is, I can't pay Christophe's expenses." "The good news is, the CBC will co-produce your film." "So we can afford a better camera and a professional cameraman." "But we need to discuss rights and length." "As the Chinese proverb goes, "Every advantage has a drawback. "" "You'll finally get a small team and space to work." "She's late." "What are you doing?" " I'm..." "It's for luck." " Is your ex-boss here?" " No." "Do no-shows always lose?" "He's not appealing." "You are." "It's not a trial." "Tell your story." "I'll deal with the legal aspects." "It'll take 20 minutes at most." "You can consult me." "You can have the appeal taped." "But the camera stays outside." "Any questions?" " No." "Let's go." " Yes." "No, no." "Hey." "You heard?" "Camera outside." "Lawyers aren't interested." "in defending unemployed people." "It doesn't pay." " Okay." "What about you?" " That's different." "We're looking for four or five people with different profiles:" "a mother on welfare, an unemployed guy..." "The aim is to form a kind of squad to represent the unemployed." "For example, you're a graduate." " Yeah, so?" " You represent unemployed graduates." "I represent no one but myself, thank you." "You don't identify with the unemployed." "I know lots of post grads on welfare." "I know." "I just want to sort my case out, not tell the world what's wrong." "I don't have missionary zeal." "Sorry." "Keep cool." "I understand you." "It doesn't mean you're right." "Understand?" "I won't hold you forever." "You should get the ruling by mail next week." "So..." "On that note..." "Will I see you at the meeting?" " Yes." "Thanks a lot." " My pleasure." "No, I don't understand." "I've tried everything." "Everything." "They aren't going yellow, they're falling off." "About ten leaves a day." "Ten." "Is this where you belong?" "The $100 question." "Where I belong?" "I don't know." "I'm a cashier, so that's where I belong." "I'm not overqualified." "Okay... it puts food on the table." "ODILE, cashier $14,000 a year" "Food?" "I buy clothes, I paint, do the dishes..." "I work as a cashier." "In one month, I'll have finished my studio." "But what about you?" "Basically, I do what I want to do." "Is this where you belong?" "Is it?" "I don't know." "You poke around in Christophe's life, in mine..." " I poke around?" "You can stop anytime, Odile." "You just need to say." "The same goes for Christophe." "Christophe trusts you." "Do you?" "I know two Stéphanes." "I know Stéphane without his camera, and Stéphane with it." "When you arrive with your gear, you're a bit more... uptight." "I sell frozen pizzas, but you think it's tough." "We're open." "We understand." "The house encourages art and so on." "But we needn't exaggerate." "Huh?" "What did you dream about 10 years ago?" "ROGER CLOUTIER, manager, Master in biology" " Morin?" " Yes." " Oh, yeah?" " No, no." "Malaysia is our big contract." " Okay." "Even the president is going there next week." " Okay, global positioning." " Yes, yes." "The global village." "The bonds have been made, but it's better with the prime minister." "Of course." "You must be ready to leave for two years." "But Malaysia won't happen for at least two months." " Okay." " Um..." "I'll put your CV on top if you want." "Yes." "Thanks." ""The Malaysian currency is the... ringgit."" "It's Christine from Defending the Unemployed." "Even if you lost, you can claim there was a technical error." "That could take 36 months." "So welfare's your best option now." "Call me if you need any more information." "Goodbye." "I know what you paid, but you can't compare that to the current value." "Okay, but it's still $600." "I know you paid $600 for it, but I can only give you $250 max." "Nothing more." "That's $20." "$20 for opening the file," "BERTRAN D ROMORIN head-hunter plus a commission if I get you hired." "Quality Control." "With all this globalization, they need Lots of controllers." "Are you interested?" "Well..." "It's well-paid work." "Does anything take your fancy?" "I don't get the feeling... you know what you want." "Care to comment?" "Seen that chart?" "Look." "These here are... the steps in choosing a career." ""Identifying my inner self,"" ""Exploring existing careers,"" ""Confronting careers which interest me with my inner self,"" ""Determining my potential, my career options,"" "and "Making a plan of action."" "The first if the hardest." "This one." "It's the preliminaries, just like with women." "That's the hardest thing to do..." ""Identifying my inner self" may sound stupid, but it's not so easy." "Take me, for example." "I look like a pretty confident guy." "But, actually... it's a way of camouflaging... my shyness." "My brother-in-law told me." "He arrived when I was in the process of identifying my skills and trying to discover what I am." "Then he arrived and "kapow!"" "He told me, "Deep down inside, you're shy."" "I think your problem lies here:" "Number 3." ""Confronting careers which interest me with my inner self."" "You have a kind of block between what you want and what's on offer." "That's how it is." "In a way, it's up to you... to make the first move." "I must unblock Number 3." " He follows you everywhere?" " Yes." "Strange idea." "Does it pay, that job?" "A little." "It helps me survive." "He gets paid to film you?" "You're doing overtime, I see." "Nothing's happening tonight." "I'm off to bed." "What's that?" "Is that a joke?" "Oh, it's touching." "It's really heart-warming." "That's real pity." "It's your birthday gift." "You've certainly got a good scene " "Lots of emotion." "Christophe comes back from the supermarket and finds his guitar!" "He has to fight back the tears." "Will you zoom in on my Little tear?" "What are my lines, Stéphane?" ""Thanks, Stéphane!" "I never thought I'd see it again!"" "But you forgot something." "I sold it because I didn't want it anymore." "That's perfect." "Now we can go sell it again!" "I'II sell my trumpet as well." "I'm sure you'll buy me that back too." "Huh?" "Well... surprise." "Okay, it's a flop." "Huh?" "You're not the only one who's surprised." "Right, sweetie?" "Hi, I'm Joanne Rogers." "I represent a big multinational looking for people who want to work part-time or full-time to boost or change their income." "It's a new focus on technology in the information age representing a new world of guaranteed opportunities." "To be unemployed: v.tr. - 1 2th c.: from the Latin caumare, "to rest in the sun."" "Mr. Pierre Harvey, you're an economist at the School of Business Studies." "You've studied unemployment." "Do you think the unemployed are lazy, or victims of the economic system?" "Historically, the unemployed were often considered lazy." "If we look at past legislation " "English 18th-century law, for example - we see the unemployed were treated as criminals." "Today, that's different." "According to our definition, an unemployed person is someone who would like to work, but who cannot find work at the current market rates." "Well?" "Is it interesting?" "What?" "This: the café, uh... me, my cup, my newspaper." "Is it interesting?" "Was it your producer's idea?" "To make a soap opera?" "Before you filmed something specific:" "my job search." "But now you film nothing." "Everything and nothing." "I feel like I'm in "The Truman Show."" "Maybe, but that's unemployment." "No?" "Dead time." "The doubting oneself." "Do you have doubts?" "Is this what you want?" "Is your theatre career over?" "Why this film?" "That's what I ask myself." "Do you want to show people how hard it is to be unemployed?" "How boring it is?" "There are more important issues." "No?" "Hello." " How are you?" " Fine, and you?" "Hi, Stéphane." "I can't stay long." " Why?" "I have an important meeting with my artist friends." "It's okay." "I can stay for a bit." "What were you doing?" "Know what I've got?" " What?" "My Mexico photos." " Want to see them?" " Yes, of course." "That's my house." "It's on a hill facing the ocean." "That's amazing." "There's no one around?" "That's unbelievable." "Matináe films are better." "Cheaper." "We could go together sometime." "We could go bowling!" "Yes, bowling!" "I love bowling." "It's such fun." "Yes, it is fun." "But look, I'm broke." "I haven't a penny at the moment." "The only thing I can afford is ice skating." "So we'll go skating." "I like that." "We'll go skating." " I haven't any skates." "I'm sorry." " It's okay." "You take up a Lot of space." "We'll film the introduction and go." "Hello." "Did you return the file...?" "No, but you must call them before 12:00." "Listen..." "Look..." "Christophe Bálanger, Jean Lalibertá." " How are you?" " Fine, thanks." "Are you into sports?" "Alpine skiing?" "Alpine skiing?" "No." "With a tan like that?" "Mexico?" "No, not at all." "I'm sure you know our company..." "It's carotene." "Sorry?" "I drink lots of carrot juice." "That explains the tan." "I see." "No tan lines, then!" "Shall we begin?" "With all that's happened... in Eastern Europe..." "The fall of the Berlin Wall has made waves." "Crime has shot up since the end of Communism." "They weren't ready for freedom." "So what we do is offer them expertise in integrated security systems." "That explains our record profits." "Any questions?" "Yes." "Uh..." "Can you tell us who your main clients are?" "Yes." "Uh..." "Entrepreneurs, businessmen, politicians..." "You've really hit the jackpot." "We're appreciated in high places." " Can we start?" " Yes." "Thank you very much." "Congratulations!" "You've made democracy safe." "My experience is about adaptation." "Innovation, in fact." "I've always combined the two by" "Why have you been unemployed for so long?" "It takes time to find something that suits me." "You don't mind if someone films you all the time?" "Look, your friend's gone." "Uh... seriously, your CV is very interesting." "His presence handicaps you." "Why did you agree to be filmed?" "He's my friend." "And because I'm an extrovert and it amused me." " It does you a disservice." " That's enough." "It has 63.6 inhabitants per square kilometer." "The currency is the ri... the rigit" " The ringgit." " Ringgit." "You're brighter than most engineers." "Me, anyway." "But we already talked about that." "Philippe, why the excuses?" "He chose you, not me." "You're friends." "That's okay." "That's okay." " It's not that." "I mean, yes, I feel bad..." "We haven't spoken since before Christmas." "I didn't know you'd applied." "You hate that, Christophe." "You always have." "You hated it at school." "You loathed it." "You even told me you were unhappy there." "Give it up." "Do what you like doing." "I don't know." " Thanks for that, but it's easy for you to talk right now." "I don't expect any kicks." "Malaysia's cool, but it'll be turning screws on turbines." "Turbines." "Hello." "Here, for your viewing pleasure, we present Christophe." "The freak show of the year after the Dionne twins  and the bearded ladies  and the elephant man." "Here he is:" "Christophe  the unemployed man with two faces, two heads." "Heh." "Half-engineer, half..." "Hey, Stéphane..." "I'm your flag, right?" "I'm your subject." " Hi!" " Hi!" "How are you?" " Fine." "You?" " Fine." " Had a nice day?" " Yes, and you?" " Yes." "What's that smell?" " Smells of popcorn." " Again?" " Sure." "Curry really improves it." "Tired?" "Not at all." "Hey, Christophe, I'm making a chicken splosh." " What?" " Splosh: chow mein." "Splosh!" " There's enough for two." " No, thanks." " Sure?" " Yes." " It won't take any longer to prepare." " No, thanks." "This is the third night you're eating curried popcorn." "How are you?" "Problems with the producer, that's all." "Uh, by the way," "I don't want you at my next interview." "Okay." "Understand?" "Yes." "The company makes undercarriages." "I will supervise the dismantling of machines going to Mexico." "It's four days' work, but better than nothing." "There are no chances of longer work because the company's moving." "It's closing down?" "Well... closing down here and moving to Mexico." "But you'll be helping to close a factory." "Those four days will allow me to pay you back six months' rent." "I don't think turning the job down would have stopped them from moving." ""Congratulations to all our staff!"" ""Congratulations to all our staff!"" " 483 people worked here." "Now there's only 55." "VICTOR ROBIDOUX, operator $44,200lyear" "They kept us on to dismantle everything." " To dismantle your jobs?" " In effect, yes." "But it was three weeks' extra work." " You could work slowly." " We know." " Or backwards." " Backwards?" " You could reassemble again." " With profits of $454 million Last year, no one expected the company to move." "We found out they'd considered it for a Long time." "A guy overheard a conversation in the toilets a month ago." "They held a press conference and said it was the global strategy." "But why did you journalists simply report what they said, without asking any questions?" "That's it." "What would you like to tell the boss?" "Headquarters, DN R Systems" "Why aren't millions enough for you?" "JOSEPH DAGENAIS, president $1 .2 million a year" "They're not my millions." "Company profits have been falling for three years due to our growing lack of competitiveness." "The political climate is making shareholders nervous." "It's better in Mexico, I suppose?" "This is a redeployment strategy." "Your wage demands have backfired." "Piss off!" "Hey!" "Happy now?" "You got the freak show you wanted." "Are you filming for the unions?" " It's a film about unemployment." " Unemployment?" "I see." "What do you want me to say?" "Life's a spinning wheel." "While you watch, I'm turning it." "What is this wheel you're turning?" "You're closing one plant to open another." "You're not creating much." "Huh?" "You do nothing, you believe in nothing." "I believe in nothing?" "Right." "I think you're quick to put people in boxes." "Why say that?" "You don't know me." "It's easy to knock me down." "But what do you create?" "Do you create jobs?" "You're a journalist?" " An actor." " Actor?" "A film actor?" " Stage mainly." "Stage?" "That's great." "I love the theatre." "I often go there." "I sponsor it too." "Many theatre companies contact us." "We do what we can." "Well... it's good to have guys like you to distract us." "Work was tough today." "Work was tough today." "Why?" "The others think I'm taking their job in Mexico." "Know what they call me?" ""The cesspool emptier."" "Or even "the terminator."" "The terminator?" "The Last manual worker." "Put yourself in their place." "You know what?" "At the studio they asked me if you know about synthetics." "No." "You know, I'm a mechanical engineer." "Yeah." "Yes, you're better off in a factory." "Just being practical." "Yes, but you aren't practical." "I think you're cynical." "It's humor." "I'm a joker." "You're cynical about work and you bring it here." "That doesn't interest me." "What do you mean?" "You're only interested in bits of me?" "So which bits would you Like?" "It's not about what I'm interested in." "I know what I'm interested in." "I'd like to know what interests you." ""DNR Systems considers re-assembly to be an act of sabotage." ""Legal action is being considered." ""The board will call in a team from Vermont to oversee the remaining work."" "That's it, boys." "That's all they gave me." "You'd best go home again." "Excuse me, excuse me..." "What's going on?" "I'm on that list." "I'm sorry, no one may enter." "Someone reassembled the machines during the night." "Hey, hey, hey!" "No cameras allowed." "You!" "Yeah, I'm talking to you!" "Hey, aren't you the wise guy from yesterday?" "Huh?" "Cut it out!" "What are you doing?" "!" " It was your idea!" " No, it wasn't." "It just came up in conversation." "You filmed the president while he was pissing!" "What were you thinking?" "Did you think that sabotage could help the workers?" "See yourself on the barricades?" "Did you think about me, about my job?" "No, you thought about your film!" "Listen, I'm not their guru." "Huh?" "They did it themselves." "They don't need me to get angry." "Perhaps, but look at the result." "Guys from Vermont are coming." "Listen, I'm sorry." "Please don't tell me you're sorry!" "You only thought of yourself!" "I quit a job I couldn't stand." "That hurt no one but me." "You make a film about unemployment and cause more unemployment!" "Christophe, I'm sorry you lost four days' work, but that firm's making millions at other people's expense!" "At other people's expense, eh?" "How much does shooting cost?" "At whose expense do you get paid?" "Hey, that's different!" "It's not just firms live off others." "You may need me." "I don't need you." " Just say the word." " Okay, I will." "It's over." "Stéphane, I'm sorry about what happened." "Uh... given you don't know where he went," "I suggest ending with what you have." "Or, like you said, you could wait for him to call, whenever that is." "And some nights feel like years." "end: n. from the Latin finis. "Climax." Moment when something ceases." "end: n. from the Latin finis. "Climax." Moment when something ceases." "Vancouver, British Columbia" "Why go back to Montreal?" "There's nothing there for me." "It reminds me of engineering." "I miss..." "Actually, I don't miss anything." "The funny thing about the B.C. Dome is the novel way they did the roof." "You didn't miss me?" "Do you have a girlfriend?" "You haven't changed." "Okay, tell me about your band, then." "It's a jazz trio." "We've been doing shows for two months." "I've finally devoted myself to music." "Does it pay your rent?" "You feel it, you sense the proximity of the Pacific." "It's great." "It's never winter." "Galaxia Universalis Encyclopedias" "So the film is over when I find a job, yes?" "Well, I have." "Do you like it?" "It's not like the factory." "I do it for the band." "How long will you stay?" " I don't know." "Is it far to your show?" " A 3.5-hour drive." "I'm afraid there's no room for you, because of all the gear." "The final word?" "Oh, the final word!" "Good Luck." "Christophe?" "What was in that box?" "I dumped my job this week" "Because I couldn't take it anymore" "Lining someone else's pockets" "Without ever getting my dues" "Christophe now teaches music at a Vancouver secondary school." "Odile is preparing another exhibition and works at Wal-Mart." "Philippe caught encephalitis in Malaysia and now makes pedal boats in Sudbury." "Bu sold his shop to Boni-Soir and opened a pet shop." "Stéphane Demers is looking for a roommate... and a new job."