The beauty of May

Marseille, Winter 1887. More than a thousand women are employed at the tobacco factory on Rue Bleue (today Friche Belle de Mai), which produces cigars, scaferlatis and cigarettes. Despite recent modernization, Living and working conditions are harsh for these Italian immigrants. Sespo, Teresa and Rosa, three young cigarette sellers, decide to organize themselves, without union or experience, to spontaneously go on strike on the spot after One of them was severely punished by management, suspected unfairly for stealing tobacco. Their first demand: that the body searches at the exit of the workshops. Little by little, they have to win public opinion and the press, finding premises, standing up to the bosses workshop workers who seek to intimidate them, convince management and then the prefect, see bigger in their demands, live solidarity... And emancipate themselves of their condition. Everything will go much faster and further than they imagined. Through the destiny of these three workers of Italian origin, Mathilde Ramadier and Élodie Durand tell the difficult daily life of these women who came to France to find work. A feminist fight, trade unionist and non-violent which ends with a resounding victory. A beautiful story of solidarity and emancipation!