DC Labor Film Festival September 13 - 19

If you happen to be in the DC area over the next week, the Washington DC Labor Film Festival begins tomorrow night with a free screening of The Take at American University; Weschler Theater. Thirty unemployed auto-parts workers walk into their idle factory, roll out sleeping mats, and refuse to leave. All they want is to re-start the silent machines.

Twelve films will be shown, many of which will be repeated. You can check the entire schedule here.

Of special interest to Confined Space readers is WORKINGMAN’S DEATH, Friday night, September 15, at 7:00 at the American Film Institute in Silver Spring. According to Stephen Holden of The New York Times

Breathtakingly beautiful images contrast starkly with backbreaking work by coal miners in the Ukraine, sulphur gatherers in Indonesia, animal butchers in Nigeria, shipbreakers in Pakistan and steelworkers in China. “As (Workingman’s Death) observes laborers from around the world going to hell and back, day after
day, year after year, to eke out subsistence livings, you are struck by their exuberance, vitality, teamwork and satisfaction in discharging backbreaking duties with a minimum of complaint. The simple act of doing the work, no matter how dangerous, gives their lives structure and purpose; triumphing over fear adds to their sense of accomplishment…Glawogger wonders, ‘Is heavy manual labor disappearing or is it just becoming invisible?’ In this visually impressive but proudly unscientific hymn to progress, the answers are yes and yes.”

And, as a special bonus, your favorite blogger (me) will be leading a short discussion following the film.

Other films being shown are:

MAN PUSH CART
NALINI BY DAY, NANCY BY NIGHT
NORTH COUNTRY
OFFICE SPACE
THE GRONHOLM METHOD
A DAY WITHOUT A MEXICAN
THE AX (LE COUPERET)
CHICKEN RUN
ISN’T THIS A TIME!
FARMINGVILLE

See you there.