The Nothing Factory

A true epic on the most unlikely of subjects - industrial relations or at least the rights of workers. There is definitely a touch of Miguel Gomes and his "Arabian Nights" trilogy about Pedro Pinho's glorious film about a group of factory workers doing what they can to save their factory and their jobs and if you think this is going to dry, dull and at three hours much too long, forget it. With his huge cast, almost all non-professionals, Pinho explores every aspect of their lives as well as opening up his film to look at, not just the state of the Portuguese economy but what he sees as the death of capitalism, using a number of cinematic styles so when the moment comes when the workers burst into a song and dance routine, it doesn't feel out of place. This is a funny, moving and really rather over-whelming film as good as anything you will see this year.