Le maître de forges: Iron, Ego, and a Whole Lot of Sighing

Is it worth the watch?

Look, if you’re into sweeping period dramas that move at the speed of a cooling forge, you might dig Le maître de forges. It’s not exactly a thrill ride. You’ll probably enjoy it if you like watching people learn to swallow their pride, but if you need a fast pace, you’ll be checking your watch by the thirty-minute mark.

The whole setup is practically ancient—noblewoman loses money, has to marry the guy who runs the factory. It feels a bit like a soap opera from a different century. Honestly, the way she looks at him at the start, you’d think he personally insulted her ancestors.

The vibe is... heavy

There is a lot of staring out of windows in this movie. So much staring. I swear, half the runtime is just people standing near curtains, looking pained. The ironmaster, played by Jacques Dumesnil, has this perpetual look of 'I don't know why I married into this headache.' It’s kind of funny if you watch his face closely.

The sets are fine, I guess. A bit theatrical. It reminded me a little of the pacing in Dame Care, where the heavy atmosphere just hangs there until you feel like you need to open a window. Everything feels a bit stifled, which I suppose is the point, but it gets exhausting.

Odd little things I noticed:

• The lighting in the forge scenes is weirdly dramatic. It’s like they were trying to hide the fact that they were filming in a shed.
• The jewelry they wear is absolutely ridiculous. It looks heavy enough to pull a neck muscle.
• Every time there’s a quiet conversation, someone is always holding a tea cup that seems to be empty.

It’s not as chaotic as The Big Killing, that’s for sure. This is all about manners, social standing, and the crushing weight of pride. I think the movie gets better once they stop dancing around the issue and just admit they’re both stubborn as mules. But that takes forever.

Don't expect it to change your life. It’s a bit of a relic. But sometimes, watching people be miserable in beautiful clothes is exactly what you need on a rainy Tuesday. Just maybe have a coffee handy.