Discover the film Les Lucioles :
You can find all our films on our YouTube channel:
The year is 1922, in New Jersey. Mollie is 17 years old and the newest recruit at a factory where female workers paint watch dials with radium paint.
She discovers a cramped place ruled by an imposing and austere manager, Mr Dickinson. He scrupulously scrutinises the work of the sixteen workers. They repeat each stage of production at a frantic pace.
The three workers sitting at Mollie’s table have synchronised, almost robotic movements. Mollie is out of rhythm and tries to catch up when the manager approaches.
In a clumsy move, she knocked over her pot of radium, which shattered on the floor at the director’s feet. The manager abruptly moves his foot back to dodge the splash. He stared at her coldly and then reprimanded her.
At the end of the day, Grace, Margaret and Irene enthusiastically prepare to go to the evening ball. The manager forces the three workers to stay and work with Mollie to make up for the loss caused by her mistake.
Margaret is the most disappointed and lashes out at Mollie. Irene, exasperated by the manager, tries to put the situation into perspective with Margaret. Grace puts her head down and goes back to work in silence. She takes Mollie under her wing as a model worker.
The atmosphere is heavy. Margaret sulks at the window, Irene and Grace look sullen as they work. Night falls. Mollie finally confesses that she has never been to a ball, which prompts Irene and Grace to show her some dance steps. Mollie discovers the phosphorescence of radium. After a moment’s hesitation, she decides to go and ask Margaret, still in her corner, to put a smile back on her face.
The workers improvise a ball in the factory, where the euphoria builds to a crescendo. The night brings out the brilliance of the radium powder. The workers go so far as to paint their faces with the luminous paint. Mollie lets loose and joins in completely. She ends up climbing onto a table to twirl around, but the light suddenly goes on. The director catches them in the act and the girls freeze. Dickinson rushes over to Mollie.
He grabs her by the arm and pulls her towards the door.
Mollie refuses to let him have it and struggles, managing to break free of the headmaster’s fist. Facing Dickinson, she untied her apron and threw it at his feet. She walks headlong towards the door. Mollie exchanged one last look with the workers, then left the factory. The door closes on the three workers who remain inside the factory.
The next morning, the pace of work resumed. Dickinson again walked up and down the rows. Mollie’s place was empty. Margaret, Irene and Grace looked coldly at the manager as they worked.
