Hot Docs 2024: Union Review

This will be one of many reviews during this year’s Hot Docs Film Festival, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.

Set in the JFK8 Amazon’s warehouse in Staten Island, New York, Union chronicles the creation of their local union. The ALU, Amazon Labor Union is an organization run by former and current workers whose president, Chris Smalls, was fired for requiring safety measures and providing supplies at the beginning of the pandemic. The film depicts the events leading to their effort to approve the union establishment.

Directed by Brett Story and Stephen T. Maing, the film is an observational documentary that does not need to say it is pro-worker. The manner in which Story and Maing show their subjects, demonstrating the physical and mental abuse the workers suffered from Amazon, states that. Shot in the middle of the pandemic, it contrasts two worlds. One that is trying to solve pre-covid labor issues. The other one reflects the exploration that emerged from the lockdowns. These two realities are shown in a way that makes audiences empathetic to the exploited workers. In the end, it is a good idea to let the camera affirm their realities. It does not need interviews, excerpts, or voice

Also, the construction of the figure of “Smalls” is narratively interesting. He is a former worker who was fired for speaking out at the establishment. However, some union allies saw him as a narcissist who only thought about himself. Even when showing those two contrary visions, the film does not lose its focus, which is the union. Besides the complexity of his figure and/or intentions, the work conditions for these people faced are way more important. It focuses on the worker’s relations. This can be observed in the labor solidarity with those who were fired or need any kind of resources. Even with the trillion-dollar company trying to bust the union behind expensive consultants, the working-class organization is stronger.

In the final moments of the film, voting, and approval of the union are considered the most important of this generation. It makes the public reflect that even with dwindling working rights and payment corrections, the class does not react. Even with future unionization rejections, the film ends on a hopeful note. A sort of expectation that soon the working class can reorganize again and ask for what they deserve. At the end of it, this is exactly what the film is about. A courageous group of people working towards a common goal. And that formula works pretty well as a film.

still courtesy of The Film Collaborative

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Pedro Lima

Brazilian film writer. He is also a producer and executive producer for Zariah Filmes. Member of the International Film Society Critics Association (IFSCA), International Documentary Association (IDA), and Gotham and Media Film Institute.