120m; Poland
Director: Jerzy Kawalerowicz
Synopsis: A peasant’s son in Poland becomes politically radicalized, after moving to the big city to work in a cellulose factory.
Category Archives: Occupation/Type of Work
Central Bakery O, Dridi (2002)
33m; France
Director: Camy Julien
Synopsis: Profile of Algerian baker working in France.
America Now: Children of the Harvest (2010)
60m
Broadcast Date: NBC, July 19, 2010
Producers: David Corvo, Nick Capote and Rayner Ramirez
Synopsis (Dateline NBC): For thousands of children in America, summer means hard labor in the hot sun. They’re migrant laborers working alongside their struggling parents on America’s farms. Dateline took its cameras and found a story of hardship, perserverence, and love.
Website: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38312193/ns/dateline_nbc/t/america-now-children-harvest/
Choking Man (2006)
83m; U.S.
Director: Steve Barron
Synopsis: he social anxiety of a morbidly shy Ecuadorian dishwasher working in a Queens diner provides the psychological engine that powers this intense blend of drama and magical realism from the famed music video director. Newcomer Octavio Gómez Berríos gives a quietly effective performance in the “title” role. Also starring Mandy Patinkin.
Contact: Ghost Robot 373 Broadway, Suite F3 New York, NY 10013 T 212-343-0900 F 212-898-1119 C 646-234-1036 chokingman@ghostrobot.com
Christ in Concrete (aka Give Us This Day) [1949]
120m; U.K.
Director: Edward Dmytryk
Synopsis: Italian immigrant Germenio (blacklisted American actor Sam Wanamaker), exploits his fellow workers in dangerous construction work in order to provide for his own family. Set in NYC’s Little Italy (but shot entirely in England!), this compelling working class drama was the only film made by director Dmytryk after he refused to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee and before he became a “friendly” witness. immigrants; construction workers
The Church on Dauphine Street
84m; U.S.
Director: Rustin Thompson
Synopsis: New Orleans congregation rebuilds after Hurrican Katrina, with help from union craftsmen.
The Churning (1976) (aka Manthan)
Directed by Shyam Benegal
India
The word manthan literally means deep contemplation, churning of facts, analysis aimed at solution or conclusion. The film manthan meaning the Churning) is a 1976 Hindi film made by Shyam Benegal, based on a story written jointly by Dr. Verghese Kurien (the Father of the White Revolution in India) and director Shyam Benegal. It is set amidst the backdrop of the White Revolution of India (Operation Flood) which started in 1970, ushering an era of plenty, from a measly amount of milk production and distribution. Aside from the great measurable success that this project was, it also demonstrated the power of “collective might”.
The film traces the origins of the movement through its fictionalized narrative, based around rural empowerment, when a young veterinary surgeon, played by Girish Karnad, a character based on then, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) chief, the 33 year old Dr. Verghese Kurien,[7] who joined hands with local social worker, Tribhovandas Patel, which led to the setting up a local milk cooperative, in Anand, Gujarat.
In the film, Dr. Rao, comes to a village, to set up a dairy cooperative, which upsets not just the middlemen, who were hitherto exploiting the villagers, but also the age-old feudal structure of the village, soon an uprising is sparked among the local untouchables, which leads to an economic revolution as well. (Wikipedia)
Cinderella of the Cape Flats (2004)
58m; South Africa
Director: Jane Kennedy
Synopsis: Everyday the women of South Africa’s garment industry labor in anonymity to create clothes that make other women look beautiful. At their Annual Spring Pageant, however, the workers get to wear the clothes they make. Set during the days leading up to the pageant, Cinderella of the Cape Flats celebrates the lives of these hard-working women. Screens with Being Pavarotti.
Contact: email: jane@trinityproductions.co.za Land line: +27 21 7885667 Mobile: +27 82 4450696
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