4 out of 5 stars
When it comes to surviving this life, few of us will look at our workday or family time as a thriller. One thing that might change that perspective is having the fitting soundtrack playing as you run to capture a train or try to negotiate with the person who minds your children. Director Eric Gravel taps into the life of a single mother who is merely trying to make ends meet during a railway strike. All of this would seem ordinary as it unfolds on screen until you add a score that helps to highlight the extreme nature of a day in the life of Julie Roy (Laure Calamy).
This young mother is the head chambermaid at a five-star hotel in Paris and lives with her two small children in the suburbs. This was normal for her family until the entire Île-de-France public transport system went down due to violent industrial action. With no other option to get into the city, Julie has to do all she can to get to work on time and home to relieve the caring woman who cares for her son and daughter. To make things worse, her ex-husband fails to send the alimony payments that allow the small family to survive. Despite being a regular occurrence in many people’s lives, the pace and filming style turn this film into an unexpectedly tense thriller.
Laure Calamy is one of France’s most celebrated actresses, and this project manages to capture the extent of her abilities. Full Time showcases her acting chops and physical prowess since the story starts with a full-on sprint and rarely slows down. Even though the story's arc is familiar territory in the life of a single parent, the film’s tempo takes this from a melodrama to an action narrative. This direction moves audiences to a more profound empathy for those in similar seasons of life. It exposes the needs of people who suffer from unique situations like the strikes in Paris.
After the story ends, one feeling that will most likely run through every viewer is complete exhaustion. Despite the outstanding performances from all involved in the film, there is little time to rest throughout the chambermaid’s life. This harsh reality may make this less appealing since there is little to celebrate in the single mother’s work or family experiences. Not to say that it is not entertaining. Instead, it might be better to say that this is a call to action for people to help those in their community with needs similar to Julie Roy.
REEL DIALOGUE: Are we alone on this journey called life?
Full Time proves that it can be easy to feel isolated in a crowd, even though everyone around the desperate mother may be going through similar challenges. Isolation can be a physical reality, but for many, it is truly a state of mind. We can seek solace in personal relationships or through technology, but these things eventually have limited satisfaction.
This profoundly philosophical query can be answered by saying that God is always there for us. The answer for mankind is to merely turn around and acknowledge His presence. During times of joy or loneliness, God is there for us and provides a relationship unlike any other.
Where do you start? Begin with the first book of the New Testament - Matthew 28:20 - ‘behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age’ and then go back to the beginning of the story and introduce yourself to the person of Jesus.
You may realise that you were never really alone and never need to feel that way again...
