Nine to Five
dir. Colin Higgins · 1980
Franklin Hart, the tyrannical boss, finds himself at the mercy of his three female employees after a freak incident leads to his kidnapping. As Violet, Doralee, and Judy take control of the office, their comedic antics reveal the absurdity of corporate power dynamics. Watching this film is like stepping into a vibrant world where humor becomes a weapon against oppression, and camaraderie flourishes in the face of adversity.
Meet Franklin Hart (Dabney Coleman). The biggest "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot" boss on the planet. He thrills in taking advantage of his head female office staff; humiliating, downplaying, and condescending against them whenever conveniently possible, particularly his top assistant Violet (Lily Tomlin). Long-exhausted over his gruesome bullishness, Violet, alongside co-workers Doralee (Dolly Parton) and Judy (Jane Fonda) comprise comical methods of "doing him in", when a freak incident occurs. They then manage to kidnap Hart and trap him in his own house, while assuming control of his department, and productivity leaps. But just how long can they keep him tied up?
Talking points
- workplace sexism
- the role of humor in social critique
- female solidarity in male-dominated environments
- the evolution of office culture in film
