The workers are voiceless automatons, laboring at their repetitive tasks. Malle gets right up in their faces, capturing a humanity that's on the verge of being swallowed by the process, often framing them in a manner that suggests they're trapped by the machinery. However, although I get that the drudgery is kind of the point of the film, 72 minutes of this gets to be a little tiresome and the fascination starts to wear off. Still, the measured rhythms of the film can be hypnotic.

As I was growing more restless and irritated, watching this film slowly go over the minutest detail of this factory shop and its industrial line, it suddenly dawned on me that this is the exact sentiment I would feel if I worked one of these jobs. So, I guess this is a successful film? I don't care, still fucking boring.