After Hippocrates, The Country Doctor and The First Year, French director and screenwriter Thomas Lilt presents his new film Serious Work this Wednesday, September 13. If he’s made a name for himself by brilliantly telling the behind-the-scenes stories of the medical world, this time he’s interested, always rightly, in an equally important and often under-discussed profession: teaching.
Through the story of Benjamin, a young substitute teacher with no experience who quickly finds himself faced with the difficulties of the profession, he immerses us in the daily life of a group of dedicated and united teachers over the course of a school year. To embody this wonderful team, Thomas Lilty called on his favorite actors, many of whom have already appeared in his previous projects. We make the call!
Vincent Lacoste is Benjamin
Thomas Lilte turned to Vincent Lacoste to lend his qualities to the serious work of Benjamin, a new math teacher plagued by doubts around which all the other characters in the film revolve. An actor who is very well known, as he has already given the lead role in two feature films: Hippocrates in 2014 and Premiere Anne in 2018!
“After three feature films, Vincent Lacoste and I have mutual love and trust. If I often rely on him to play Benjamin in my films, it’s because he represents my fictional double. Our partnership allows me to take more risks and feel comfortable. Vincent was able to breathe an unexpected maturity into his character. Thomas Lilt explains.
From his landmark debut in 2009 in the comedy Les Beaux Gosses, for which he received a César nomination in the Best New Actor category, to winning the coveted award in 2022 in Xavier Gianolle’s drama Lost Illusions, Vincent Lacoste has. To become the main player of his generation in just a few years.
FRANÇOIS CLUZET is Pierre
Vincent Lacoste shares the bill here with Francois Clouse (Tell No One, The Untouchables, Les Petits Mouchoirs…) as Pierre, an experienced French teacher and a true support to his colleagues, whom he watches closely. “they are his family” Thomas Lilt specifies.
This feature film marks the second collaboration between the two men after Médecin de Campagne in 2016, in which François Clouseau already brilliantly portrayed Dr. Werner. “I have never met an actor who enjoyed playing with his partners so much. It’s crazy how he shares. He brings all his humanity to his character and to the band.” emphasizes his director friend.
ADÈLE EXARHOPOULOS is Maryam
Discovered by Abdellatif Kechiche’s La Vie d’Adèle, the Palme d’Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, for which she was awarded the César for Most Promising Actress, Adele Exarchopoulos has come a long way since then and is making a splash. Various projects: Qui Vive, Le Fidèle, Sibyl, BAC Nord, Rien à foutre or more recently I will always see your faces.
In a serious profession, he plays for the first time under the direction of Thomas Lilt, who is very impressed with him: “What a great actor and what a great partner. Everything seems simple with him. I did not know him personally. Once, with him, I was no longer in a familiar place”. She plays Maryam, a young maths teacher who didn’t have the profile of the top of the class.
Louise Burgoyne is Sandrine
In the role of Sandrine, the SVT teacher, we meet another face well known to film fans, but not only to Thomas Lilt: Louise Burgoyne (Adele Blanc-Sec, A Happy Event, Love Lasts Three Years). Indeed, since 2018, he has given his features to one of the main characters of the series Hippocrates, intern Chloe Antowska.
“ In the TV series Hippocrates, he plays a rather rigid character who has a hard time creating a relationship. It was interesting to me to use the distance and side steps in her interactions with the world and others to have her play the role of a teacher who can’t exactly connect with her students despite her desire and investment. “ says the director.
WILLIAM LEBGHIL is Fouad
After sharing the poster of Anne’s premiere with Vincent Lacoste, William Lebgill reunites five years later in the shoes of Thomas Lilt and his partner, Fouad, the gang’s English teacher.
“I wanted to rely on the senselessness that he can bring to the characters, to take them somewhere else, to a form of moral exhaustion. But what I like about William is that he has a relationship with things that allows him to embody everything at face value. And convey the tenderness, Trusts Thomas Lilt. And finally, there’s that little guilty pleasure of being forced to interpret by his English teacher, even though he speaks pretty badly. “
William Lebgill, identified by the series Soda with Kev Adams, also played The Fine Team, The New Adventures of Aladdin, Ami-Ami or recently Les Accomplices.
Lucy Zhang is Sophia
The young Lucy Zhang collaborates with Thomas Lilte for the first time on this film, and for good reason, the actor, whom audiences were able to discover in Jacques Audiard’s Les Olympiades in 2021, plays only his second major film role here. In Serious Profession, she plays Sophie, a French teacher who starts out just like Benjamin and faces difficulties…
Leo Chale and Theo Navarro-Mus are Alix and Sophia
The inseparable pair of sports teachers, Alix and Sofiane, are played by Leo Challier (Vortex, Narvalo) and Theo Navarro-Mus. The latter was particularly distinguished in the series Hippocrates as the intern Igor Yurozak and will soon appear in the series Irrésistible with Camelia Jordana.
Meet this lovable team of teachers, played by a stellar cast, in Thomas Lilt’s new film A Serious Job, in theaters September 13.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
