His early work was dominated by mysteries, but his later work is characterized by a more overt social commentary, highlighting his left-wing views (Life and Nothing But, Capitaine Conan) and presenting a critical picture of contemporary French society (Ça commence aujourd'hui, Histoires de vies brisées : les double-peine de Lyon).
Primele sale creații aveau un scop mai degrabă comercial, dar filmele sale de mai târziu s-au caracterizat printr-un comentariu social mai clar, subliniind vederile sale de stânga (La Vie et rien d'autre, Căpitanul Conan) și prezentând o imagine critică a societății franceze contemporane (Ça commence aujourd'hui, Histoires de vies brisées: les dublu-peine de Lyon).