American Factory (2019)

IMDb plot summary: In post-industrial Ohio, a Chinese billionaire opens a factory in an abandoned General Motors plant, hiring two thousand Americans. Early days of hope and optimism give way to setbacks as high-tech China clashes with working-class America.

Directed by Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert.

American Factory is a documentary about a Chinese company's attempt to open a manufacturing plant in America. This is a depressing watch. I find it fascinating as a documentary how much of the back behind the scenes footage they were able to get an error that really show how fundamentally our system makes it impossible for labor workers to succeed in this country, and how the work ethic of another country overlaps and highlights these problems in both areas. It doesn't necessarily bring to light anything that I wasn't somewhat aware of, but it does a good job of highlighting in one particular instance the kinds of personal impact that can happen when we treat people as drones rather than human beings and push toward productivity above all else. I can't imagine wanting to rewatch it at any point, it's too upsetting to realize how then this is in our country, but I think it was overall pretty well done.

How it entered my Flickchart:

🎥 American Factory (2019)

📊 Ranked #2714/4237 on my Flickchart

🎯 Flickscore™: 41

lost to Frances Ha (held at #2194)

beat The Forger (#3221 → #3222)

beat Certified Copy (held at #2700)

lost to Star Trek: Nemesis (held at #2444)

lost to Son of Rambow (held at #2568)

beat Heartbeat (held at #2634)

lost to Woman in Gold (held at #2601)

beat The Interpreter (held at #2618)

lost to Legally Blonde (held at #2609)

lost to A Star Is Born (held at #2614)

beat Thoughtcrimes (held at #2616)

beat The Vagabond King (held at #2615)

Sorry, Baby (2025)

IMDb plot summary: After a tragic event, a woman finds herself alone while everyone else continues with their lives as if nothing had happened.

Directed by Eva Victor. Stars Eva Victor, Naomi Ackie, and Louis Cancelmi.

Sorry, Baby follows a young woman throughout two chapters in her life: one in which she is groomed by one of her college professors, and the second in which she comes to terms with that and how it has affected her in ways she didn't necessarily recognize at first. This is the directorial debut of Eva Victor, and it's an astoundingly good one. It's one of those films that really lets its characters live in the world, and even as there is obviously drama and plot and action happening around them, the overall feeling is one of sitting with the characters in the quiet spaces in their heads. Besides directing, Victor also plays our lead, and she is incredible here. She conveys subtly but believably all the conflicting emotions going on with this character throughout the story. I found the ending very moving. It doesn't have a big dramatic happy resolution, but it does conclude the emotional journey that we've been on in a way that I appreciated. I also really loved how they portrayed the female friendships in this movie, both the positive ones and the ones that are less healthy. Overall an incredibly strong debut and I cannot wait to see more of what this director puts out.

How it entered my Flickchart:

🎥 Sorry, Baby (2025)

📊 Ranked #515/4236 on my Flickchart

🎯 Flickscore™: 87

beat 2046 (#2200 → #2201)

beat I Want You Back (#1149 → #1154)

beat Regarding Henry (#616 → #623)

beat Akeelah and the Bee (#292 → #305)

lost to Up (#126 → #127)

lost to Speed (#200 → #209)

lost to Dawn of the Dead (#238 → #247)

beat Ball of Fire (#269 → #292)

lost to Sabrina (#258 → #269)

lost to The Fly (#264 → #171)

lost to Jean de Florette (#267 → #166)

lost to Weapons (#268 → #264)