Working Man

Working Man is a captivating 2019 drama film that skillfully explores the notions of purpose, economic upheaval, and the significance of community. Directed and written by Robert Jury, who made a strong debut in feature film, the movie stars Peter Gerety, Billy Brown, and Talia Shire.

In Working Man, the core of the story revolves around Allery Parkes, a seasoned factory worker portrayed by Peter Gerety, best known for his roles in Charlie Wilson's War (2007) and the HBO crime series, The Wire. Allery personifies a breed of hard workers whose lives seem utterly intertwined with their jobs. When his longtime factory shuts due to an economic downturn which was presumably unavoidable, Allery finds himself in the predicament of adjusting to life without his daily job routine.

Allery's commitment to work is so deep-seated that he continues to sneak back to the factory, routinely tightening bolts and putting widgets together - to keep his sanity intact. We see how steeped he is in his routine when panic manifests itself when his monotony and tedium are interrupted. Peter Gerety superbly portrays Allery's character making the audience feel and understand his struggle, desperation, and small triumphs.

Talia Shire, famously known for her role in Rocky and The Godfather series, plays Allery's wife, Iola, a woman perpetually plagued with worries about her husband's wellbeing. Shire delivers a restrained yet deeply moving performance of a character grappling with her loyalty to her husband and her sense of powerlessness in the face of his pain.

Billy Brown adds another layer of depth to the narrative, playing the role of Walter Brewer, a former co-worker of Allery with a more assertive and direct approach to dealing with the factory’s closure. Walter’s intrusion into Allery's life at first seems unwelcome, though it becomes a pivotal point in Allery's journey. The chemistry between Peter Gerety and Billy Brown translates into an intriguing dynamic between their characters – one old and obstinate, the other resilient and enterprising.

Unlike most movies that present a stylized and sensational version of economic hardship and worker crises, Working Man takes a stark, grounding approach, interspersing the narrative with long silences that mirror the emptiness of the closed factory. The film shows the raw human experience, exploring how individuals freighted with years of labor grapple with the sudden void in their lives.

Rust Belt America acts as the backdrop for the movie, and the dreary industrial town plays a significant role, mirroring the subdued mood of the film, the dilapidation and the decay the factory closing brings. The cinematography is masterful, filling in what the sparse dialogue leaves unsaid. It is not a town devoid of life but one steeped in stagnation, barely anything moving except the ennui among the residents.

Besides the human struggle, Director Robert Jury also takes this opportunity to comment on the decline of American manufacturing, the often sudden and jarring economic shifts that can displace entire communities of workers, and the uncertainty of a future without them.

Working Man brings a deeply human and sensitive perspective to the hardships faced by ordinary people when their livelihoods are threatened and their world as they know it gets pulled out from under them. Simultaneously, it paints a harrowing yet empowering story of personal struggles, resilience, the strength of community, and the dire need for human dignity.

This film stirs emotions subtly, allowing the narrative and performances to unravel gradually. It's not a film that seeks to resolve or tie up loose ends conventionally. Instead, Working Man provides an honest depiction of the characters' circumstances and leaves it to audiences to contemplate their fate.

With its essential thematic, heartfelt narrative, and stellar performances, Working Man manages to leave a strong impression, making it an enriching cinematic experience.