Workingman's Death (2005)

Director:

Michael Glawogger

Writer:

Michael Glawogger (writer)

Release Date:

25 November 2005 (Austria)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

A documentary on the extremes to which workers will go to earn a living. |

Awards:

5 wins & 2 nominations

Directed by
Michael Glawogger

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Michael Glawogger		writer

Produced by
Pepe Danquart	....	producer
Erich Lackner	....	executive producer
Mirjam Quinte	....	producer

Original Music by
John Zorn

Cinematography by
Wolfgang Thaler

Film Editing by
Ilse Buchelt
Monika Willi

Art Department
Pepe Danquart	....	artistic collaborator

Sound Department
Ekkehart Baumung	....	sound
Erik Mischijew	....	sound
Matz Müller	....	sound designer
Matz Müller	....	sound
Paul Oberle	....	sound
Christoph Ulbich	....	foley editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Attila Boa	....	assistant camera

Editorial Department
Peter Jaitz	....	assistant editor
Alarich Lenz	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Richard Lormand	....	publicist: international

Thanks
Deborah Gabinetti	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Arte
• Austrian Film Institute
• Lotus Film
• Lotus-Film GesmbH
• Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg
• Quinte Film GmbH
• Vienna Film Financing Fund
• Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF)

Distributors

• Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (2006) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Sagrera TV (2006) (Spain) (all media)
• Seventh Art Releasing (2006) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Bali Film Commission  thanks

Runtime:

Canada:122 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Argentina:122 min | USA:122 min

Country:

Austria | Germany

Language:

Pashtu | Yoruba | German | English | Ibo | Indonesian | Mandarin | Russian

Color:

Black and White | Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Australia:MA (2007) | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Anshan, Liaoning, China

Company:

Arte

An important film

Very good documentary about the working conditions of five groups of workers. Even though it's the twenty-first century, the director wants us to know that a lot of workers across the world have not benefited from the advancement in technology. First, we're off to Ukraine to learn about the work of some coal miners. Their work conditions are just unbelievable. Then, the director brings us to Indonesia to show us the hard work done by the sulfur miners (I didn't know nothing about this line of work). We are then transported to Pakistan, where we are shown the work of ship-breakers. Again, I was unaware that ship "cemetaries" of this sort still existed today. The open slaughterhouse of a Nigerian city is next. Animal activists beware: don't watch! I was just fascinated by the chaos that seems to reign in that place. Finally, we are shown the working conditions in the steel industry of China.

All those segments are presented without real context. There's no narration. But it's easy to follow, to get the point. And the images say a thousand words. Beautiful cinematography and very good camera movement. Some times, the camera moves with the subject, Some times, subject and camera are not moving. It's like a photo shot. One thing is for sure, you always feel like you're in the middle of the action. Even though, you see the despair, you can also see hope in what most of these workers say. Watch it. It's a great eye-opener.

Seen at the Toronto International Film Festival (at the Cumberland Cinemas), on September 17th, 2005.

87/100 (***½)