: It avoids simple caricature, instead highlighting the ridiculousness of both social classes—the stiff hypocrisy of the bourgeoisie and the rough-edged resilience of the lower class.

(Life is a Long Quiet River) is a sharp, satirical masterpiece directed by Étienne Chatiliez. It famously subverts the peaceful imagery of its title to expose the chaotic and brutal social contrasts of late-80s France. Plot Summary

: A working-class, disorganized family living in a cramped apartment where the father is unemployed and the kids are often in trouble.