Bertrand Tavernier’s 1977 film plays off the traditions of the French Popular Front cinema of the 30s; it’s a simply told, optimistic story of a group of high-rise tenants who come together to fight an exploitative landlord. Michel Piccoli plays Bernard, a film director who seems to have made many of Tavernier’s own films; he is drawn into the struggle through a student organizer (Christine Pascal). Tavernier as usual excels at evoking the muddy and often contradictory emotions that lead to a decision to do right, and the film is graced with an offhand ease and charm that support its serious intentions.