Un bon petit soldat (2026)

Un bon petit soldat (English title: A Good Little Soldier) is a 2026 French drama film directed by Stéphane Brizé, known for his realistic portrayals of social and workplace dynamics. The screenplay was co-written by Brizé alongside Coralie Almedo and Olivier Gorce. The film stars Alba Rohrwagner in the lead role, supported by Vincent Lindon, Renaud Petitjean, Benjamin Sarfati, and Vanessa Milot. It premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 9, 2026, before its theatrical release in France on November 25, 2026.

The narrative follows Carla, a human resources executive at a large insurance company tasked with leading an ambitious campaign to reshape the corporate employer brand. She strives to balance employee well-being with strict performance targets, but finds herself walking a increasingly narrow tightrope between compassion and corporate demands. As the pressure mounts, she faces inevitable compromises that blur the line between ethical HR practices and ruthless management, illustrating the systemic erosion of empathy within modern European capitalism.

Audience reception following its Venice premiere highlighted the film's intense emotional weight, noting that despite some initial expectations of a lighter tone based on marketing, the story delivers a poignant and tragic look at the struggles of working women and mothers. Critics praised Alba Rohrwagner for carrying the film as a powerhouse performance, depicting how a European HR professional is gradually transformed into a mechanistic instrument of corporate policy. The film has been noted for its sharp critique of global managerial trends and their impact on individual integrity.

• The film marks another collaboration between director Stéphane Brizé and star Vincent Lindon, who previously worked together on films like Keeping Time.
• Alba Rohrwagner, an acclaimed Italian-French actress known for her work in The Great Beauty and Happy as Lazzaro, takes on the complex role of a mid-level manager caught in corporate crossfire.
• It premiered in competition at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival in 2026.
• The production highlights the specific pressures faced by Human Resources departments in balancing legal compliance, employee welfare, and shareholder value.