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Manufacturing Goes to the Movies: Great Films About the Industry

Posted September 27, 2013 & filed under References

Manufacturing Goes to the Movies: Great Films About the Industry

Where is the love for the manufacturing industry in Hollywood? And why aren’t there that many movies about manufacturing?
It’s Friday and after a long week at work the weekend is finally here. If you are one of the hardworking 17.2 million manufacturing employees that added $1.87 trillion to the US economy then relish in kicking back this weekend. If your goal this weekend is to plop down in front of the television then consider checking out one of these manufacturing based films.

Gung ho (1986)

In 1986 Michael Keaton teamed up with director Ron Howard to create a captivating and hilarious look into the differences between Japanese and American manufacturing. Focusing on a small town car manufacturer that is bought out by a Japanese company, Gung Ho is a typical 1980s Keaton comedy with some great dramatic undertones. Best of all, it brings to light the drastic cultural differences between the American and Japanese worker.

Extract (2009)

Straight from the often twisted mind of Mike Judge (who brought us the likes of Office Space and Beavis and Butthead), takes on the manufacturing industry with this film. Jason Bateman plays the owner of an extract plant who is also facing a litany of personal and professional issues. If you are looking for a comical take on the manufacturing industry that is full charm, Extract is a good pick for you.

Detropia (2012)

If you are in the mood for something a bit more informational than this film should be one of your top choices. Directed by the tag-team duo of Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, both seasoned documentary filmmakers, this piece takes an in-depth look at the fall of the city of Detroit after the collapse of the US manufacturing base from the great recession. A Sundance Film Festival award winner, this film demonstrates the importance of the manufacturing industry in America.

The Promised Land (1975)

Jumping across the world to Poland, Academy Award winning director Andrzej Wajda writes and directs this critically acclaimed depiction of Poland’s booming textile manufacturing industry in the late 1800s to early 1900s. Combining vicious factory owners and harsh working conditions, this film illuminates the terrible working conditions of factory workers and the vehement pursuit of fortune by industrial investors. If you enjoy a great foreign film, pick this one up.

Norma Rae (1979)

Who could forget about dear little Norma Rae. One of Sally Field’s earliest film appearances puts her in the shoes of a single mother and textile worker who stands up for what she believes in, no matter the cost. The film is the quintessential film for any blue collar worker who has been through the unionization of their place of work. This is the first of three films Field would work on with director Martin Ritt (the others being Murphy’s Romance and Back Roads), and it also reeled her in a Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival.

By Kevin Withers

Image courtesy of JanneM via Flickr