69m; U.S.
Director: Roy del Ruth
Cast: James Cagney, Loretta Young and George E. Stone
Synopsis (IMDB): Amidst a backdrop of growing violence and intimidation, independent cab drivers struggling against a consolidated juggernaut rally around hot-tempered Matt Nolan. Nolan is determined to keep competition alive on the streets, even if it means losing the woman he loves.
145m; U.S.
Director: Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott
Cast: Mikela J. Mikael, Rob Beckwermert and Christopher Gora
Synopsis (IMDB): Since the late 18th century American legal decision that the business corporation organizational model is legally a person, it has become a dominant economic, political and social force around the globe. This film takes an in-depth psychological examination of the organization model through various case studies. What the study illustrates is that in the its behaviour, this type of “person” typically acts like a dangerously destructive psychopath without conscience. Furthermore, we see the profound threat this psychopath has for our world and our future, but also how the people with courage, intelligence and determination can do to stop it.
70m;
Director: Andrew Levine
Synopsis: Filmed in Nepal and India this documentary presents the stories of young girls whose lives have been shattered by the child sex slave trade. The film provides actual footage from inside the brothels of Bombay, known even to the tourists as “The Cages,” captured with “spy camera” technology. The documentary also introduces the heroes of the movement who are working to abolish child sex slavery and who remind us that, “these are our daughters.”
100m; France
Director: Mona Achache
Cast: Josiane Balasko, Garance Le Guillermic and Togo Igawa
Synopsis (IMDB): Paloma is a serious and highly articulate but deeply bored 11-year-old who has decided to kill herself on her 12th birthday. Fascinated by art and philosophy, she questions and documents her life and immediate circle, drawing trenchant and often hilarious observations on the world around her. But as her appointment with death approaches, Paloma finally meets some kindred spirits in her building’s grumpy janitor and an enigmatic, elegant neighbor, both of whom inspire Paloma to question her rather pessimistic outlook on life.
Director: Lyn Goldfarb
Synopsis (Lyn Goldfarb): The New Los Angeles paints a portrait of an extraordinary city poised to re-frame America’s dialogue about urban political and economic change. This powerful documentary takes the viewer on a journey from the bitterly fought, racially driven elections that brought Mayor Tom Bradley to power in 1973, to the historic 2005 election of L.A.’s first Latino mayor in more than 130 years, Antonio Villaraigosa. Along the way, The New Los Angeles examines how race, labor, and immigration have shaped and reshaped the city’s political life and landscape. This is a story about forging coalitions, nurturing inclusion, seeding innovation, salvaging identity and building community -messages that will resonate throughout America and the world.
2m; U.S.
Director: Mary Matthews
Synopsis: Philadelphia’s SEPTA transit workers, having gone without a contract since March 2009, continue to strike for a fair pension.
Contact: Mary C. Matthews Interactive Media Producer/Director Transport Workers Union of America 1700 Broadway 2nd Floor New York, NY 10019 Office: 212-259-4903 E-mail: mmatthews@twu.org
6m; U.S.
Director: Mary Matthews
Synopsis: TWU Local 525 provides ground support for both manned and unmanned NASA missions and their jobs are at risk, as is the future of space exploration.
Contact: Mary C. Matthews Interactive Media Producer/Director Transport Workers Union of America 1700 Broadway 2nd Floor New York, NY 10019 Office: 212-259-4903 E-mail: mmatthews@twu.org
Director: Gus Trikonis
Cast: Robert Hays, Art Carney and Barbara Hershey
Synopsis (IMDB): The “Alison Group” has bought four beer breweries in difficulties. The young but rising top manager Franck Macklin is sent to reorganize one of them – the one which happens to be the main company in his home town. At first his old buddies are reluctant to have him as new boss, but since he can’t save all of them from the severe changes, the climate soon changes. Then he learns that he increased the profit so much, that the his bosses have decided to resell his brewery profitably to an incompetent Texas oil millionaire…
Director: Bann Roy
60m
What if your gender barred you from applying for a job, and once you were allowed to apply, the rules changed to make it impossible for you to qualify? What if you took legal action to be considered fairly for the job but then faced overwhelming discrimination and hostility from your co-workers? Welcome to the world of Captain Brenda Berkman and the first women to join one of the most celebrated—and macho—lifesaving organizations in the world: the New York City Fire Department.
TAKING THE HEAT: The First Women Firefighters of New York City tells the story of Berkman and the small group of women who dared to want a “man’s job.” Through one-on-one interviews, filmmaker Bann Roy exposes the loneliness, violence and even sexual abuse these women endured to serve their communities.
Home and educational video copies of TAKING THE HEAT: The First Women Firefighters of New York City are available from:
Anjali Films
Email: yoon@takingtheheat.com
THE LABOR FILM DATABASE 