Corporate (2017) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

An HR manager confronts the consequences of a company strategy designed to push employees out after a colleague dies at work.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Mobility as Management

Émilie is presented as a leading HR manager at Esen while career development and employee mobility are discussed. The company's evaluations and pressure leave some employees with few options.

Key Events

• Esen Team-Building Exercise — Émilie takes part in a team-building exercise and is praised as a leading HR manager. Characters: Émilie Tesson-Hansen Location: Esen
• Mobility Discussions — Émilie discusses career development and Catherine's move to a mobile position. Characters: Émilie Tesson-Hansen, Catherine Tremblay Location: Esen
• Behavioral Evaluation Initiative — Esen promotes behavioral evaluations and encourages employees to change roles. Characters: Émilie Tesson-Hansen, Stéphane Froncart Location: Esen
• Few Options for Employees — Pressure and denied requests leave some employees with few options. Characters: Émilie Tesson-Hansen, Didier Dalmat, Catherine Tremblay, Jean-Louis Maury Location: Esen

A Death at Esen

Didier dies at work, and Émilie describes his recent behavioral change during meetings. A health-and-safety representative challenges the company's effort to treat the death as private.

Key Events

• Didier Dies at Work — Didier Dalmat dies at work, turning the workplace initiative into a grave crisis. Characters: Didier Dalmat, Émilie Tesson-Hansen Location: Esen
• Didier's Recent Change — In meetings, Émilie describes Didier as valued and notes his recent change in behavior. Characters: Émilie Tesson-Hansen, Didier Dalmat Location: Esen
• Workplace Accident Dispute — The representative rejects framing Didier's death as private and demands it be declared a workplace accident. Characters: Émilie Tesson-Hansen, CHSCT union representative Location: Esen
• Responsibility Comes Under Question — Émilie faces questions about her responsibility as Didier's supervisor. Characters: Émilie Tesson-Hansen, Didier Dalmat Location: Esen

The Investigation Tightens

Colleagues grieve and fear blame or transfer as investigators question Émilie's conduct. She learns that allegations could expose her to serious criminal charges.

Key Events

• Employees Fear Blame — Colleagues respond with grief, anger, and fear of blame or transfer. Characters: Émilie Tesson-Hansen, Catherine Tremblay, Jean-Louis Maury Location: Esen
• Investigation Questions Émilie — Investigators question Émilie's HR role and dealings with Didier. Characters: Émilie Tesson-Hansen, Didier Dalmat Location: Investigation
• Potential Criminal Charges — Émilie learns she could face harassment or involuntary manslaughter charges if intent is established. Characters: Émilie Tesson-Hansen Location: Investigation

The Strategy Exposed

A former colleague explains that the mobility strategy was designed to push resistant employees out. Émilie admits her role to Jean-Louis and tells Juliette to seek legal action.

Key Events

• Strategy Behind the Evaluations — A former colleague reveals Stéphane devised a strategy to push resistant employees toward leaving. Characters: Émilie Tesson-Hansen, Stéphane Froncart, Didier Dalmat, Catherine Tremblay, Jean-Louis Maury Location: Esen
• Émilie Admits Her Role — Émilie tells Jean-Louis the company wanted Didier gone and admits she pressured him. Characters: Émilie Tesson-Hansen, Jean-Louis Maury Location: Esen
• Disclosure to Juliette Dalmat — Émilie tells Juliette the plan was meant to make employees quit and urges her to sue Esen. Characters: Émilie Tesson-Hansen, Didier Dalmat, Marie Borrel Location: Unspecified

Pressure Turns Inward

Esen's internal investigation cites alleged ethics-code violations and pressures Émilie to resign. The meeting ends before the company's full ultimatum is stated.

Key Events

• Esen Demands Resignation — Esen cites alleged ethics violations and tells Émilie to resign or face further action. Characters: Émilie Tesson-Hansen, Managing director of Esen Location: Esen internal investigation

Story Breakdown

• Esen Mobility Program — The company promotes evaluations and employee mobility while workplace pressure narrows employees' options.
  • Team Building — Émilie participates in an exercise and is praised as a leading HR manager.
  • Career Mobility — Émilie discusses career development and Catherine's move to a mobile position.
• Employees Under Pressure — Behavioral evaluations, denied requests, and pressure affect several employees.
  • Blocked Options — Some workers have few choices amid mobility pressure and denied requests.
  • Affected Employees — Didier, Catherine, and Jean-Louis are identified as affected by the strategy.
• Didier's Death — Didier dies at work, prompting meetings and disputes about the nature of his death.
  • Behavioral Change — Émilie describes Didier as valued and says his behavior had recently changed.
  • Accident Dispute — The health-and-safety representative insists the death be declared a workplace accident.
• Émilie Under Investigation — Investigators examine Émilie's HR role and her dealings with Didier.
  • Supervisor Questions — Émilie faces questions about her responsibility as Didier's supervisor.
  • Criminal Exposure — She learns of possible harassment or involuntary manslaughter charges if intent is established.
• Strategy Revealed — A former colleague explains the company's purpose behind evaluations and mobility pressure.
  • Stéphane's Initiative — The initiative was devised to identify resistant employees and push them toward leaving.
  • Pressure Tactics — Evaluations, mobility demands, and blocked requests were stages of the process.
• Émilie Confesses — Émilie acknowledges the company's intent toward Didier and her part in pressuring him.
  • Admission to Jean-Louis — She tells Jean-Louis that the company wanted Didier gone and that she pressured him.
  • Disclosure to Juliette — She tells Juliette the plan was designed to make employees quit.
• Company Retaliation — Esen's internal investigation turns scrutiny toward Émilie herself.
  • Ethics Allegations — The investigation cites alleged violations of the company's ethics code.
  • Resignation Pressure — Émilie is told to resign or face further action before the meeting ends.

Directed by

Nicolas Silhol

Key Cast

• Céline Sallette — Émilie Tesson-Hansen
• Lambert Wilson — Stéphane Froncart
• Stéphane De Groodt — Vincent Philippon
• Violaine Fumeau — Marie Borrel
• Alice de Lencquesaing — Sophie Dubois