Genre | THE LABOR FILM DATABASE

As Goes Janesville (2012)

Brad Lichtenstein
US, documentary
83m
http://asgoesjanesville.com/

Goes to the front lines over the future of America’s middle class – by insightfully tracking the recent battle over union rights in Wisconsin, and by focusing on the hometown of the former Republican vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan. First, General Motors shut down Janesville’s century-old auto plant, leading to massive layoffs. Then, newly elected governor Scott Walker ignited a firestorm by ending collective bargaining and unleashing a protest movement that led to his recall election. Director Brad Lichtenstein followed the lives of Janesville’s auto workers for over three years, as they tried to save their jobs.

<p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/53693696″>”As Goes Janesville” Official Theatrical Trailer</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/371productions”>371 Productions</a> on <a href=”http://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.</p>

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Posted by Labor Film Database on February 14, 2013 in Documentary, Global Economy, Industrial/Mine/Manufacturing, Manufacturing, Transportation, Unemployment-Wages

Set for Life (2012)

14 Feb

Dir: Sam Newman and Susan Sipprelle
US, documentary
66m
http://www.overfiftyandoutofwork.com/videos/documentary/

Follows three Baby Boomers who attempt to recover from the devastating impact of losing their jobs during the Great Recession. The film shows their struggle to hang onto their homes, health insurance, and hope. Over time, the three boomers learn to cope with unemployment’s drastic effects on their lives, including the loss of economic security and ultimately their loss of confidence in the American Dream.

Susan Sipprelle <susansipprelle@gmail.com>

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Posted by Labor Film Database on February 14, 2013 in Documentary, Global Economy, Self-Employed/Freelance, Technology, Unemployment-Wages

Leviathan (2013)

14 Feb

directed by véréna paravel & lucien castaing-taylor
US
documentary

a thrilling, immersive documentary that takes you deep inside the dangerous world of commercial fishing. Set aboard a hulking fishing vessel as it navigates the treacherous waves off the New England coast-the very waters that once inspired Moby Dick- the film captures the harsh, unforgiving world of the fishermen in starkly haunting, yet beautiful detail. Employing an arsenal of cameras that pass freely from film crew to ship crew, and swoop from below sea level to astonishing bird’s-eye views, LEVIATHAN is unlike anything you have ever seen; a purely visceral, cinematic experience.

http://www.arretetoncinema.org/leviathan/

<p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/58995554″>Leviathan (trailer)</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/cinemaguild”>Cinema Guild</a> on <a href=”http://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.</p>

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Posted by Labor Film Database on February 14, 2013 in Documentary, Farm & Food, Working Class

The Spirit of ’45 (2013)

14 Feb

directed by Ken Loach
UK
Documentary

An impassioned documentary about how the spirit of unity which buoyed Britain during the war years carried through to create a vision of a fairer, united society

1945 was a pivotal year in British history. The unity that carried Britain through the war allied to the bitter memories of the inter-war years led to a vision of a better society. The spirit of the age was to be our brothers and our sisters keeper.

Director Ken Loach has used film from Britain’s regional and national archives, alongside sound recordings and contemporary interviews to create a rich political and social narrative. The Spirit of 45 hopes to illuminate and celebrate a period of unprecedented community spirit in the UK, the impact of which endured for many years and which may yet be rediscovered today.

Distributor: Dogwoof
Patrick Hurley
patrick@dogwoof.com

The Spirit of ’45 – first look review (The Guardian)

The Spirit of ’45: Berlin Review (The Hollywood Reporter)

Ken Loach’s ‘The Spirit Of 45’ An Effective But Conservatively Presented Doc About Radical Social Change (IndieWire)

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Posted by Labor Film Database on February 14, 2013 in Documentary, Labor History, Public Sector, Safety & Health

Brooklyn Castle (2012)

14 Feb

US
101m
documentary
http://www.brooklyncastle.com/

Tells the stories of five members of the chess team at a below-the-poverty-line inner city junior high school that has won more national championships than any other in the country. The film follows the challenges these kids face in their personal lives as well as on the chessboard, and is as much about the sting of their losses as it is about the anticipation of their victories. Ironically, the biggest obstacle thrust upon them arises not from other competitors but from recessionary budget cuts to all the extracurricular activities at their school. BROOKLYN CASTLE shows how these kids’ dedication to chess magnifies their belief in what is possible for their lives. After all, if they can master the world’s most difficult game, what can’t they do?

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Posted by Labor Film Database on February 14, 2013 in Blacks, Children, Cities-Urban, Documentary, Education

Black and White and Dead All Over (2012)

10 Jan

Directed by Lenny Feinberg & Chris Foster
83m; US

An in-depth look at the newspaper industry as it struggles to remain financially viable and to keep the presses rolling. Through the voices of prominent journalists including Bob Woodward of the Washington Post and David Carr of the New York Times, we reveal an industry in the midst of a financial death spiral, as readers abandon print for online news sources. We see publishers and editors desperately trying to create a sustainable business model for their dying papers.

Our film examines the importance journalism has on our society by following two fearless investigators into the badlands of North Philadelphia. With the economic crisis in the newsroom threatening to shutter their struggling tabloid, these courageous women bring down a dangerous and corrupt narcotics squad.

If the American newspaper dies, who will conduct investigative journalism, who will hold public officials accountable?

Click here to see the trailer
For more information on the film visit blackandwhiteanddeadallover.net

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Posted by Labor Film Database on January 10, 2013 in Arts/Culture, Communications, Documentary

The Second Cooler (est 2013)

04 Dec

Writer / Director Ellin Jimmerson
Narrated by Martin Sheen
Run time: approximately 87 minutes
Anticipated release date is Winter, 2013
Sub-titled in English and Spanish

SYNOPSIS
Documentary about illegal immigration shot primarily in Alabama, Arizona, and northern Mexico. The premise is that Arizona is the new Alabama, the epicenter of an intense struggle for migrant justice. The documentary’s purpose is to bring basic immigration issues into focus. Those issues include the impact of free trade agreements on migration, the lack of a legal way for poor Latin Americans to come to the United States, the inherent abuses of the guest worker program, the fact that many migrants are indigenous people, anti-immigrant politics, the reality of thousands of migrant deaths at the border, and an escalating ideology of the border.
The Second Cooler raises the question “Who benefits?” from illegal migration. It has interviews with 25 illegal migrants, including three children under the age of 12. It follows several of them throughout the film. In addition, it includes interviews with 55 professionals including historians, lawyers, clergy, labor union organizers, politicians, a Border Patrol agent, human rights advocates and others who untangle the threads of a complicated issue. When a viewer reaches the end of The Second Cooler, he or she will understand why 12 million migrants are in the United States illegally and will be able to offer an informed answer to the question, “Who benefits?”

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Posted by Labor Film Database on December 4, 2012 in Documentary, Immigrants/Immigration

161 Days: The Vita Cortex Workers Struggle (2012)

03 Dec

Ireland | 2012 | 45mins | Colour
The 16th of December 2011 was to be the final day for workers at the Vita Cortex plant in Cork. Their redundancy payments had been agreed but in the final days of their employment they were informed that the payments could not or would not be made. A decision was made to occupy the plant which they did for 161 days, one of the longest running industrial disputes in the history of the Irish state.
The campaign attracted support from football stars Alex Ferguson and Paul McGrath, former President Mary Robinson, actor Cillian Murphy and philosopher Noam Chomsky.
This is the story of the occupation.

Producer Barra O’Connell
Print Sourceinfo@wildacre.ie

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Posted by Labor Film Database on December 3, 2012 in Documentary, Industrial/Mine/Manufacturing, Working Class

Drivers Wanted (2012)

30 Nov

Directed by Jean Tsien & Joshua Z Weinstein
Run time: 53 min. | USA

It takes persistence to run a taxi service in New York City, and new drivers are always needed. Long hours, disrespectful customers and the blinding snow of a blizzard are just some of the challenges they must face. DRIVERS WANTED explores the daily workings of one Queens garage as a new driver transitions from double-decker tour buses to taxis. Throughout it all, 90-year-old Johnnie “Spider” Footman keeps showing up for work. – MRR

Click here for trailer.

Joshuazweinstein@gmail.com
WeinsteinFilm.com

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Posted by Labor Film Database on November 30, 2012 in Documentary, Service Workers, Transportation