Plot Summary
Inhuman Resources (original title: Dérapages) is a French Netflix miniseries that debuted in 2020. It’s a psychological thriller based on the novel Cadres Noirs by Pierre Lemaitre. The series stars Eric Cantona as Alain Delambre, a desperate, unemployed man who becomes entangled in a corporate scheme that spirals out of control.
Alain Delambre, a 57-year-old former HR executive, has been unemployed for six years. Despite his qualifications and experience, he is repeatedly rejected in the job market, leading to growing bitterness, insecurity, and a sense of worthlessness. His financial situation becomes dire, and he feels like a failure in the eyes of his family.
When he receives a surprising interview opportunity for a major corporation, Alain becomes willing to do anything to secure the job. But the hiring process involves a disturbing and ethically questionable “role-playing” exercise that requires candidates to simulate a hostage situation to test the resilience of executives. Alain’s desperation blinds him to the moral implications of the task, and his life takes a dark and irreversible turn.
The Job Interview Turned Hostage Situation:
Alain is recruited to participate in a mock hostage-taking exercise. Exxya wants to see how their executives handle crises. Alain takes the game too seriously, manipulating the scenario and even resorting to violence.
Corporate Betrayal:
Alain wins the challenge but is double-crossed by Exxya’s CEO, Alexandre Dorfmann, who never intended to hire him. The hostage situation becomes a media scandal, and Alain is scapegoated.
Revenge and Justice:
Enraged, Alain devises a plan to expose the company’s corruption. He manipulates the system, leaks evidence, and ultimately turns the tables on Dorfmann.
The Family Dynamic:
Alain’s obsession with the job causes deep damage to his relationship with his wife and daughters. His moral decay, driven by desperation, is as tragic as his corporate downfall.
Ambiguous Ending:
The series ends with Alain having won a form of justice, but at the cost of his freedom and family. His victory feels hollow, underscoring the brutal, dehumanizing forces at play in the corporate world.
Ending Explained
The ending is intentionally ambiguous. Alain achieves revenge by exposing corporate corruption, but he loses almost everything personally. His journey from victim to aggressor mirrors how systemic forces can corrupt even well-intentioned individuals. Ultimately, the show leaves viewers questioning the cost of success and the inhumanity of the modern job market.
Analysis
Desperation and Dehumanization of the Job Market:
The series critiques the corporate world’s ruthless treatment of older job seekers and the desperation that unemployment creates. Alain’s plight is a stark commentary on how society discards experienced workers.
Corporate Greed and Immorality:
Exxya’s willingness to conduct a fake hostage situation underlines the cold, calculating nature of corporate leadership.
Morality vs. Survival:
Alain’s moral compass erodes as he becomes more aggressive in his pursuit of the job. His transformation forces viewers to ask: how far would you go to survive?
Reviews
Critics’ Perspectives:
- Forbes describes the series as “gripping,” highlighting its portrayal of the “depressive precariousness” experienced by the protagonist, Alain Delambre. forbes.com
- World Socialist Web Site notes that while Inhuman Resources “displays considerable insight up to a certain point,” it eventually “loses its way.” rottentomatoes.com
Viewer Feedback:
- On IMDb, users have shared varied opinions:
- One reviewer praised it as a “Great Drama,” emphasizing its captivating narrative.
- Another user found it “Highly Recommended,” appreciating the plot and Eric Cantona’s performance.
- Some viewers, however, felt that the story became “unbelievable” towards the end, expressing disappointment with the final episodes. imdb.com
- A discussion on Reddit reveals that some viewers were “hooked by episode 2,” but felt the series “quickly turned” less engaging by episode 4. reddit.com
Conclusion
How I Became a Gangster (2020) is a gripping and intense crime film that blends action, drama, and psychological depth. Unlike many gangster films that glamorize crime, this one offers a raw and realistic portrayal of the dark side of power. It serves as both an entertaining crime saga and a tragic cautionary tale about the dangers of the criminal world.
