Discover the “Compagnons du Devoir” in this exclusive clip of “The job of learning”

After directing ‘Boomerang’, Frenchman François Favrat returns to the big screen with ‘The job of learning’, a drama starring Agnès Jaoui, Pio Marmaï and Najaa Bensaid. Favrat, who also signs the screenplay with Johanne Bernard, was inspired by the work of the “Compagnons du Devoir”, a French organization that trains young people in crafts. More than a simple school, in the Accompanists manual work and mutual help are valued and young people between 16 and 35 years of age from all walks of life live together in their “homes”, but it is particularly important to provide a dignified future for those with few resources and at risk of social exclusion. “The Learning Office” will be released in theaters on October 28th.

Naelle is 19, but she already has a complicated past and, no doubt, an uncertain future. As a result of a seminar, she Naelle meets Helene, who plays the “mother” in the “Compagnons du Devoir”. Helene will become her mentor and help her find an unexpected direction in life. Naelle will learn from Paul the world of craftsmanship, a profession and, above all, the values ​​of the Compagnons.

The cast, which includes a mix of professional and amateur actors, is completed by Soriba Dabo, Youssouf Wague, Kevin Boudeau, Sam Louwyck and Geneviève Mnich, among others.

The youth of Nantes

According to its director, what interested him in the company was its motto, “to become capable, worthy, free and generous”, but also the fact of being able to highlight the value of manual, artisanal work, which today tends to be denigrated, but which requires extraordinary knowledge and experience. Although there are several House of the Companions Across the country, Favrat chose Nantes as the setting for his film where he interviewed many young people from Bellevue who either weren’t working or could end up in drug trafficking: “Most of those we met there resemble the character of Naëlle or Coca-man and Djibril. They are not criminals, just young people who struggle to keep going despite the difficulties of everyday life “.explains the director, “They often feel rejected or, in any case, have internalized the fact of being excluded. But they have an important merit: they are united, there is an incredible spirit of mutual help between them; they call their friend “the family”. “, exactly in the spirit of the Companions”. ‘The craft of learning’, in theaters on October 28th.