Jay Gould once famously said, “I can hire one-half of the working class to kill the other half.”
Then, over time, labor began to organize the against the likes of him. Decade after decade. And now look where we are. On the other hand, where exactly are we now? The working class over the past century has made considerable strides. And for proof all one need do is to note the extent to which, throughout the modern industrial world, there exist this thing we call the “middle class”. With lots and lots and lots of workers in it. On the other other hand, the reactionaries have in turn been making strides of their own. Particularly of late. Organized labor [especially in America] is all but on life support. The rich are back to getting richer like never before and the workers are increasingly left to fend for themselves.
Let’s be honest, the capitalists [and their cronies in government] have always been adept at divide and conquer – dividing workers by pitting them against each other. Sometimes in terms of race or ethnicity or religion or gender. And now, with the global economy ever more increasingly the shot caller, workers can be pitted against each other on a truly grand scale.
But: competition in some industries is the reality. And, so, the part about firing someone may not actually be personal at all. In fact, it almost never is. It is simply a basic necessity for some folks to stay in business at all.
Here however the context is more intimate. The company is small. Less than 20 employees. And, increasingly, we live in a world where folks tend to be entirely pre-occupied with just 3 things: 1] me 2] myself and 3] I. There is virtually no solidarity at all, let alone worker solidarity.
This all unfolds in Belgium. So, what do I know about the nature of the “political economy” there? All we know is this: Sandra finds out her fellow employees have voted that, in order to receive a bonus – 1,000 euros – she must lose her job. And, then, in order to complicate matters all the more, Sandra suffers from depression. Now, one by one, she has to change the minds of the majority.
So, it is basically the workers here who are made to appear greedy. The boss after all is only doing what he must do in order to stay in business. At least if he is to be believed. It is instead the workers who seem to be obsessed only with their own self-interest. Thus there is never any question of uprooting capitalism itself.
And then there’s the part that all unfolds “under the table”.
IMDb
[b]Although she was required to shoot long 7-minutes takes, Marion Cotillard found the experience the most rewarding that she’s been a part of. She recalled shooting certain takes 50-60 times, the record being 82 takes of the same scene.
The original idea for the film came in the early 2000s, when the Dardenne brothers read about a real-life case in a big French factory. There was a worker whose production output wasn’t good enough for the other workers to get their bonuses, so that person was let go. They heard about similar cases in Belgium, Italy and USA, and they all raised the question of solidarity.
In an interview to Indiewire, Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne stated that they were thinking about 12 Angry Men when conceiving Two Days, One Night, because it’s a process of going to see people to try and change their minds.
Liège - in which the film takes place, has a 23% unemployment rate, one of the highest in Belgium, which would make harder for Sandra to find a new job.[/b]
at wiki: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Days,_One_Night
trailer: youtu.be/Tb3zBq6gVRk
TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT [Deux Jours, Une Nuit] 2014
Written and directed by Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
[b]Sandra [aloud to herself after learning that she has lost her job]: Hold on. Hold on. You mustn’t cry.
…
Manu: If you go in, Dumont will agree to a new ballot.
Sandra: It’s no use. No one gives a damn.
Manu: Juliette told me the foreman talked to them and scared them.
Sandra: They want their bonus. It’s only natural.
Manu: No, it’s not natural.
…
Manu [to Sandra]: The only way to stop crying is to fight for your job.
…
Mr. Dumont [to Sandra]: I have nothing agasinst you but I have to deal with competition from Asian solar panels.
…
Daughter: If Mom loses her job will she get sick again?
Manu: She is not going to lose it.
…
Manu: You’re just giving in instead of taking action.
Sandra: Easy for you to say. No one but Julliette and Robert thought about me. As if I didn’t exist. They’re right. I don’t exist. I’m nothing. I’m nobody!
…
Manu [to Sandra]: It’s not tour fault they lose their bonus if you stay. The boss decided that, not you. [/b]
But: If the boss really does face stiff competition from Asia what can he do? After all, he could lose the business itself and they would all be out of work. But this is the very nature of capitalism. It’s not always just about greed.
Willy: I didn’t vote against you, I voted for a bonus. Dumont set the one against the other, not me.
Sandra: I know it’s awful asking you to choose but I don’t want to lose my job. Without my salary, we can’t get by.
Willy: I’m sure but I can’t give up my bonus. We need 500 a month for our oldest girl’s studies and 600 more for her lodging. What do the others say?
Sandra; You are the first I have spoken with.
Willy [hesitant]: I’ll think about it.
Wife: What? It’s all thought over. We can’t.
[she turns to Sandra]
Wife: I wish we could help, but I’ve been out of work since February. We salvage floor tiles to make ends meet.
And this is the actual existential fate of so many folks – living [sometimes precariously] from paycheck to paycheck.
Mireille: Are the others willing to give up the bonus?
Sandra: There are three for now. Juliette…
Mireille: No, no. Juliette has it easy. Her husband fixes cars under the table. I can’t. I left my husband and my boyfriend and I are starting from scratch. Funiture, TV, bed, washing machine, dishes – we have to buy it all. I can’t afford to lose 1,000 euros. Don’t be mad at me. I can’t.
Everyone has their own story. Their own unique set of circumstances.
[b]Timur: Hello.
Sandra: Hello. Your daughter told me you were here. I was round at your place. I wanted to see you about the vote on the bonus and me being laid off. Juliette and I saw Dumont and he’ll let us hold another ballot Monday because Jean-Marc influenced people by telling them that Dumont wanted to lay off staff anyway. So if it wasn’t me who was made redundant it would be them…So…I wanted to ask you if…if you’d vote for me to stay on Monday.
Timur [in tears]: Of course I will. I’m really glad you’re here. I’m so mad at myself for voting for my bonus. I’m sorry.
Sandra: Don’t be sorry. I can understand. 1,000 Euros.
Timur: No. I’m ashamed. I even forgot what you did for me. Remember? When I broke those cells…and you said you did it. You remember.
Sandra: Yes, and Jean-Marc even said: “Fine example to set the new guy!”
Timur: I’m really glad you came.
…
Hicham: I work here on weekends. My wife couldn’t tell you. It’s under the table. I’m sorry I was so curt on the phone but I can’t do it. I don’t ewant you to lose your job but I need that bonus. Put yourself in my shoes. It’s a year’s utility bills.
Sandra: Put yourself in my shoes. I want to work and earn a salary again. I want to be with all of you and not at home alone.
Hicham: Ideally you could stay and we’d get our bonuses. I told Jean-Marc that earlier. He says Dumont can’t do that. [/b]
So it all comes down to Jean-Marc’s motive for letting Sandra go. Is it personal or did her depression make her the “weak-link” in the employee chain. She is after-all at home on sick leave because of it.
[b]Sandra: I wish that was me.
Manu: Who?
Sandra: That bird singing…
…
Sandra: I caused that fight.
Manu: Calm down.
Sandra: I tell you I can’t go on but you ignore me. You don’t understand. I caused that violence. I can’t stand it.
Manu: It’s the first time.
Sandra: No, it’s everytime. I feel like a beggar every time. A thief coming to take their money.
…
Manu: Five out of ten now want you to stay!
Sandra: No, two! I forced the others to pity me. If I’m take nback, those who lose their bonus, how will they look at me? How will I deal with them all day?[/b]
Again, this is the very nature of capitalism: Some for the better, some for the worse.
[b]Julien: Can I be frank?
Sandra: Yes.
Julien: Dumont saw that 16 of us can do the job. Why would he take you back?
Sandra: With 16 people, Juliette said you have to do three hours overtime a week.
Julien: What if we do it to earn more?
…
Sandra: I just took the whole box of Xanax.
Manu: All your pills?
Sandra: Yes.
…
Alphonse [the sole black employee]: You know, I’d like to vote for you tomorrow. It’s what God tells me to do. I should help my neighbor. But I’m scared of the others.
Sandra: Scared of who?
Alphonse: The other workers. That’s why I voted agasinst you on Friday. It wasn’t for the bonus. I haven’t been there long. I’ll only get 150 euros.
Sandras: Did Jean-Marc talk to you? What did he say?
Alphonse: That if I wanted to fit in, I should vote for the bonus, because everyone else wanted it. I wanted to vote for you, but I didn’t dare.
…
Sandra: You’re like me. You’re afraid of Jean-Marc.
Alphonse: Yes.
…
Jean-Marc: Happy now that you’ve stirred up all this shit? Friday’s ballot was enough.
Sandra: You shouldn’t have scared them to vote against me.
Jean-Marc: What are you implying?
Sandra: You told some of them if I wasn’t laid off, they would be.
Jean-Marc: I never said that.
Sandra: Yes, you did. And you called them over the weekend to tell them not to change their minds.
Alphonse: What? Who told you that?
Sandra: It doesn’t matter. You’re heartless.
…
Juliette [to Sandra]: Eight for, eight against. You’re one short.
…
Mr Dumont: You convinced half the staff to give up the bonus. Well done. Of course half isn’t a majority, but to dispel any ill-will among the staff, I’ve decided to give them the bonus and take you back. Jean-Marc and I now know that 16 workers can do the job. In September, I’ll let a fixed-term contract expire, and you can come back. You’re staying with us.
Sandra: I can’t let someone be laid off so I can come back.
Mr Dumont: He won’t be laid off. His contract just won’t be renewed.
Sandra: It’s the same thing.
Mr Dumont: No, it’s not.
[after a long pause]
Sandra: Good-bye, Mr Dumont. [/b]