| WORKINGMAN'S DEATH (2005) : M.Glawogger : 8/10 : new DVD release, August 2008 |
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| Wednesday, 13 August 2008 | |
 Strong meat indeed, Working Man's Death is as remarkable to experience at as it is stimulating - and disturbing - to ponder. Subtitled 5 Portraits of Work in the 21st Century, the film is divided into discrete sections showing a particular kind of manual labour in a particular part of the world. [1] Heroes : Donbass, Ukraine : coalmining. [2] Ghosts : Kawah Ijen, Indonesia : sulphur-hewing. [3] Lions : Port Harcourt, Nigeria : livestock-slaughter. [4] Brothers : Gaddani, Pakistan : shipbreaking. [5] Future : Liaoning, China : smelting. There is then an Epilogue filmed in Duisburg, Germany, at a former factory which has become an educational 'park' to teach children about heavy industry. Clearly a time-consuming, expensive project, Working Man's Death is striking in several behind-the-scenes departments: John Zorn's pulsating music; Wolfgang Thaler's cinematography; the editing by Ilse Buchelt and Monika Willi. And these contributions are skilfully marshalled by Glawogger into a very slick, impressive, compelling package. But whether or not such gruelling endeavours should be presented in such an overwhelmingly aesthetic fashion is another matter, and the absence of narration and explanatory title-cards gives the proceedings a distanced, analytical air which certainly won't please all viewers. Glawogger's previous documentary Megacities was heavily criticised in many quarters for what was perceived to be (a) ostentatious bleakness, (b) reliance on semi-staged events, and (c) the exploitation of its subjects. Working Man's Death isn't without moments where you do find yourself wondering about the film-makers' intentions: the Lions sequence, for example, features repetitive, extended footage of gory animal slaughter which will be unbearably distressing for some. But it's pretty clear that (this time) nothing is being staged solely for the camera's benefit: Working Man's Death is a record of everyday events which are beyond the experience or even the imagination of the vast majority of viewers. And it contains a range of material which is easily powerful enough to stand on its own merits without editorial comment: as adults, we can surely draw our own conclusions without being pointed this way or that. Glawogger's approach may frustrate (or even appall) some, but the director - who has evidently been to all of these places and seen these people's lives close up - doesn't seem to have any agenda of his own. His camera discovers, observes and records, and he finds beauty and grace, as well as horror and economic oppression. What's perhaps most uncomfortable for us is that these seemingly polar-opposite elements should so often come together, in the same place, and at the same time. Neil Young 16th/17th December, 2005 WORKING MAN'S DEATH : [8/10] : aka Workingman's Death : Austria (Aus/Ger) 2005 : Michael GLAWOGGER : 122 mins (timed) seen on DVD in Sunderland, 15th December 2005 (with thanks to Anne Laurent) August 2008 update : order WORKING MAN'S DEATH HERE |
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