Director: Katharine Round
Synopsis: Based on the best-selling book The Spirit Level, this film shows why a more equal society is better for all of us, including the rich. Yet still this gap is at its highest level for 30 years. It’s time for action, and a documentary is the most powerful way we can raise awareness and mobilise people.
Contact: http://thespiritleveldocumentary.com/
Trailer
U.S.
Directed by Roger Weisberg, USA, 2005 (85 minutes)
http://www.pbs.org/pov/wagingaliving/film_description.php
Synopsis: Minimum wage workers struggle to make ends meet.
25m; France
Synopsis: This is one of the first documentaries ever made that show the lives of coal miners and their families. This film is a social documentary describing the fate of some 15,000 miners in the Borinage, who in 1932 staged a strike in protest against the announcement by Belgian mine-owners of a 5% cut in wages. The film is still extremely moving and portrays men who were often treated worse than animals.
101m; Japan
Director: Shôhei Imamura
Cast: Hiroyuki Nagato, Kayo Matsuo and Takeshi Okimura
Synopsis (IMDB): Set during Japan’s depression years in the 50s, Nianchan (read: My Second Brother) tells the story about a family of 4 orphans, who are forced by circumstances to fend for themselves. Being in a mining town where the mining company is beginning to right-size its operations, jobs are getting scarce, and wages are getting lower with frequent cuts. Sticking together trying to find a way out of the vicious circle is close to impossible, and they realize that they have a better chance at carving a living if they split up.
93m;
Director: Heddy Honigman
Synopsis: Focuses on Peru’s capital city of Lima, revealing its startling contrasts of wealth and poverty, and how many of its poorest citizens have survived decades of economic crisis, terrorism and government violence, denial of workers’ rights, and political corruption.
| Directed by Sara Diamond Produced by the On to Ottawa Historical Societyand The Women’s Labour History Project RT: 53 minutes 46 seconds © 1992 – NTSC / PAL |
 |
|
In 1935 thousands of unemployed men hopped frieght trains for Ottawa demanding work, wages and an end to the relief camps. On to Ottawa brings this historic event to the video medium. It is based on the play written by Tom Hawken featuring his band, Trek participants Robert “Bobby” Jackson, Ray Wainwright and Jean Evans Sheils, daughter of Trek leader Arthur “Slim” Evans. Click here for ordering information. |
THE LABOR FILM DATABASE 