Working Man's Death, voyage into work Hell
From the Ukraine to Indonesia, passing through Nigeria, China and Pakistan: the Austrian documentary maker Michael Glawogger takes his camera to the four corners of the world in order to explore in Working Man's Death the most dangerous jobs at the beginning of this new century. This astounding and poignant trek, screened today in competition in the Horizons section, fascinated the international press through the strength of its subject matter, and also thanks to the photography which plunges the spectator into a daily struggle for economic survival. A film without concession, in which certain sequences could hurt western sensibilities and marks a new stage for the filmmaker who has been in the spotlight for 10 years, with notably Megacities.
Made up of five parts, Working Man's Death follows firstly the work of Ukrainian miners in Donbass. Once renowned as heroes for Soviet propaganda, these men and women now crawl in derelict tunnels in search of coal. But their Indonesian counterparts would envy them, their fate is to bend for hours beneath the burden of baskets of sulphur, part of their route past the enquiring gaze of tourists. As for the Nigerian stonemasons in Port Harcourt, they bathe in rivers of blood to earn a crust with dignity. Also facing risk of death are the Chinese steelworkers on Anshan as are the Pakistanis of Gaddani who cut up super-tankers at vertiginous heights to recuperate the metal. Filmed up close and personal and almost in perpetual motion, by the exceptional Wolfgang Thaler in the most difficult conditions, the documentary by Michael Glawogger succeeds in creating respectful portraits of these workers, almost galley slaves, who nonetheless keep a will to live and a great solidarity.
An Austro-German production headed by Erich Lackner for the Austrian outfit Lotus Film and by Mirjam Quinte for German Quinte Films, Workingman's death also received co-production support from Arte and 240 000 euros from Fonds Eurimages. Sold internationally by Luxembourg’s Paul Thiltges Distribution, the documentary will be released in Austrian screens on the 25th November.
(Translated from French)
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