Night Shift (2001) DVD - Classic Comedy Movie for Relaxing Evenings & Movie Nights

I endorse Trevor's excellent review. This is a very interesting, very well made film that examines the relationship between two men in the context of the workplace and their personal lives.While in one sense the two men represent different ends of the scale of masculinity, the great feature of director and co-writer Philippe le Guay's treatment of the theme is that both Pierrot and Fred's attitudes to each other and to a notion of masculinity to which they aspire are fluid; there is no question here, as there would be in lesser films, of attitudes adopted at the beginning remaining essentially the same throughout. And while Fred's developing desire to intervene in Pierrot's work and to intrude himself into his family life as well is unsurprising once the viewer realises he suffers from a neurosis or even a psychosis, the apparent need of Pierrot to seek Fred out in his turn is altogether more surprising and disturbing. It's a great tribute to Le Guay that the relationship seems unforced and stops short of melodramatic excess.I thought only once, where the two men come finally to blows in a cave, did the picture fall into melodrama; at all other times I thought it remained sufficiently rooted in a believable time and place to be very persuasive. The way that Pierrot's wife and son are drawn into the combat is also beautifully done; at first they are witnesses, then gradually they become participants.The background of a huge St Gobain bottle factory in Central France is a wonderful feature; the molten glass of the bottles on the conveyor tracks is a fine metaphor for the burning desires and animosities of the two protagonists. The minimal musical soundtrack is a bonus. The all-round quality of the acting is first-class, and that of the two principles outstanding. I echo Trevor's surprise that they are relatively unknown.A thoroughly grown-up film that will appeal to anyone in search of a top-quality psycho-drama.