Workers of the world, unite! This semester at Filmstelle we dedicate to the working class and the works of cinema born from it. Whether it be a kitchen in New York, a rice field in Italy or a factory in the Soviet Union, these places are united by their depictions of hierarchies of employer and employee and the peoples struggle to make a living wage. As director Bong Joon Ho once succinctly put it: “Essentially we all live in the same country called capitalism”. The result are bizarre spaces like the supermarket in The Store, the office in Clockwatchers and the amusement park in The World.

In these spaces the characters become an interchangeable human resource. A work-injury here, a lay-off there, it’s only a matter of time before the workers fall into crisis, or unite and revolt. In some films they do so quietly, in others not so much. Work is, however, more than just a fight for survival. The films in this program also show how tightly work is tied to community, identity and purpose. You will see a pastor lose his faith and injured factory workers inspire newfound belief. You will see friendships made and families undone. You will see scientists at the end of the world and immigrants at the start of a new life.

Now it’s time for you to enjoy the fruits of our labor. We hope to see you soon at Filmstelle!

Christoph Bärtsch