In cinema, France is often presented as a hub of culture where all kinds of people are shown hanging around cafés while sipping huge quantities of café. They are represented on screen as living in nice houses with book shelves full of literature books. A l'Origine presents a completely different image of culturally rich France. It is a realistic portrayal of France especially in its apt depiction of all turmoil related to fragile job market. Director Xavier Giannoli shows a crook who has always remained reluctant as hesitant fear always shone on his face. As usual French actor François Cluzet is superb as a different type of crook- one who would not at all hesitate to put his personal, ill gotten wealth to let his project succeed. About François Cluzet it can be said that he has never attempted to become a 'star' as time and again his brilliant acting performances have assured him a permanent place in the realm of French cinema as an "actor of quality". Emmanuelle Devos' performance is amazing in a supporting role as a small town mayor who does not think much before falling for a hesitant conman. This film also features a minor yet essential performance by legendary French actor Gérard Depardieu. He would play a lead role in "Quand J'étais Un Chanteur" / When I was a singer directed by Xavier Giannoli. In the wake of numerous incidents of suicides by France Telecom employees who collapsed due to enormous work pressure, A l'Origine makes a lot of sense as a film which tries to find why some people would go to any extent to earn easy money. One needs to simply watch how a whole town has gone crazy with the sudden arrival of a conman with kids making paintings and a father sitting proudly with his son in a dump truck with people cheering them. This film is your chance to feel happy in life by watching giant trucks used in constructing highways.

Philippe, a man who makes a living out of outsmarting gullible people, finds himself in a small town which has been hit hard by the bad times in the country. Assuming a new persona, he realizes the profits to be gotten as he brings hope to the desperate citizens of the poor area. Philippe, who is a low life, knows what right buttons to push in order to get the influential business in town to go along with a scheme that will complete a badly needed highway, which had been abandoned by the original builders.

The con man, wisely, underplays his role as he starts the machinery going. It is amazing the way this man worked to win the confidence of the people in higher places, including the lady mayor, a young widow, who welcomes the new atmosphere Philippe has falsely erected. Unfortunately, his heart plays tricks on him: he has fallen for Stephane, the mayor. The appearance on the scene of Abel, his partner in crime, gets the con man a reason to think twice about the monstrosity of his game.

Based on a true story, it was adapted for the screen by its director, Xavier Giannoli, in collaboration with Daniel Karlin. The results are quite startling, as a good idea of the scope of what Philippe created for his own profit, affects a whole community. Mr. Giannoli is helped with the wonderful cast he brought together to his project. Excellent performance by Francois Cluzet dominates the film. His intelligent approach to the material work well in reenacting this story. Emmanuelle Devos appears as Stephane, the mayor, and Gerard Depardieu, who has collaborated with Mr. Giannoli before, shows up in a small, but pivotal role of Abel.

Paul is a small-time crook, ripping off construction businesses by usurping identities and reselling equipment he acquires. His travels bring him to a small town where his false identity (Philippe Miller) brings hope that a stalled highway construction project will finally get underway and let the inhabitants get out of the financial crisis they are in.

Town folks and local companies are all too eager to trust this stranger who inadvertently brings hope and when they begin to talk numbers and even bribe him, Paul decides to seize this golden opportunity. At first, he is awkward in his Philippe Miller persona but quickly gains assurance.

This part of the story plays much like a false identity con, not unlike Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can. But lately, French cinema has excelled in portraying work, economic and social issues and this film is no exception. The more "Philippe" stays in town, the more he gets to know the people in this town, their hopes, dreams and their problems.

And so, the line begins to blur between Paul and Philippe, especially as the project itself takes life. Of course, suspicion arises every so often about whether "Philippe" is really who he pretends to be but are always rapidly squashed, because "at least, things are happening".

What is fascinating is to see almost the whole town, in a certain way, complicit with Paul's scam-turning-into-good-deed. Even Paul himself forgets about the easy money and becomes obsessed with finishing the highway project. We as viewers can't help but wonder if the townsfolk couldn't have made it happen by themselves had they had common will to do so.

The movie becomes less and less about a heist and more and more about project management by a man way over his head. The direction by Xavier Giannoli is tight, evocative and right on target. The amazing score by the underrated Cliff Martinez is perfect and beautiful, immersing us in this story that is part drama, part thriller. The entire cast was well chosen and all are believable but this is very much a film following lead actor François Cluzet, one of France's best actor who keeps on getting better and better even in his 50s now. Cluzet oozes charisma and could lead any big production.

People who enjoy thrillers such as the aforementioned Catch Me If You Can or dramas such as Up In the Air should have a great time watching this great film that tells an amazing and original story inspired by true events that took place in the 90s.