28m;
Synopsis: The compelling tale of those forced by the global economy to leave their home countries.
Category Archives: Genre
Useless (Wu yong) [2007]
80m; China
Director: Zhang Ke Jia
Cast: Ke Ma
Synopsis: Portrait of the unusual Chinese fashion designer Ma Ke, who incorporates the natural process of growth and decay in her clothes. But Jia goes further: in an elegant way he juxtaposes Ma Ke with mass production, but also places her in the tradition of small village dressmakers. Part two in his ‘Trilogy of Artists’.
Vale Inco’s CEO Roger Fuhrer Looses His Fight For Domination Over Workers (2009)
3.5m; U.S.
Director: Alain Sauve
Synopsis: A satirical look behind the scenes of Vale Incos management group as they do battle with the Local 6500 United Steel Workers Union. The strike has lasted 6 months and counting. Vale has weathered a recession and through it all has continued to be profitable, yet it demands concessions form workers. The workers have resisted these concessions and is locked in an epic battle with the greedy multinational.
Contact: Alain Sauve jackhammer111@msn.com
Valley Town (1940)
27m; U.S.
Director: Willard Van Dyke
Synopsis: This social documentary that premiered at the Steel Workers’ Organizing Committee’s convention in Chicago in May 1940 portrays life in New Castle, Pa., during the Great Depression. Unemployment and poverty transformed the town and its people as automation made its impact in the steel industry. Because of what was considered an anticorporate view, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, which funded the film, withdrew it from release and redid the film. Two very different versions, the original director’s cut and the remake, exist.
The Valley of Decision (1945)
119m; U.S.
Director: Tay Garnett
Cast: Greer Garson, Gregory Peck and Donald Crisp
Synopsis (IMDB): Mary Rafferty comes from a poor family of steel mill workers in 19th Century Pittsburgh. Her family objects when she goes to work as a maid for the wealthy Scott family which controls the mill. Mary catches the attention of handsome scion Paul Scott, but their romance is complicated by Paul’s engagement to someone else and a bitter strike among the mill workers.
View from the Bridge (Vu du pont) [1962]
110m; France
Director: Sidney Lumet
Cast: Raf Vallone, Jean Sorel and Maureen Stapleton
Synopsis: Eddie Carbone, a Brooklyn longshoreman is unhappily married to Beatrice and unconsciously in love with Catherine, the niece that they have raised from childhood. Into his house come two brothers, illegal immigrants, Marco and Rodolpho. Catherine falls in love with Rudolpho; and Eddie, tormented but unable to admit even to himself his quasi-incestuous love, reports the illegal immigrants to the authorities.
Vivid Dreams(2008)
4m;
Director: Jim Granato
Synopsis: A young woman full of dreams and aspirations to help people travels to West Africa through the Peace Corps. Her experience quickly detours into a mental ward after just three months abroad.
Vinegar In The Valley (2009)
Director: Robin Hartwig, Zac Minor and Zac Petrillo
Producer: The National Steinbeck Center
Year: 2009
Country of Origin: USA
Time: 21:27 min.
Description: Charts the rise of the United Farm Workers movement, the rise to power of Cesar Chavez and its impact on the Salinas Valley during the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Looks at the conflict from all sides by interviewing growers, union members and others. A strong student production.
THE LABOR FILM DATABASE 