The Working Class Goes to Heaven
dir. Elio Petri · 1971
The struggle for dignity and solidarity in the face of exploitation is essential to the human experience.
Feature
Class Warfare
Mood
Dark / Contemplative
Look
stark realism with a focus on industrial settings
Structure
linear progression with episodic insights into the protagonist's psyche
Plot
After losing a finger in a work accident, an Italian worker becomes increasingly involved in political and revolutionary groups.
Why watch
"The Working Class Goes to Heaven" offers a raw and unflinching look at the plight of the working class, as one man's industrial accident propels him into a world of political awakening and revolutionary fervor. Elio Petri's masterful direction crafts a visceral experience that critiques the very structures of capitalism, making this film a poignant exploration of class struggle.
Cultural context
post-war Italian labor movementsrise of leftist ideologiescritique of consumerismindustrial accidents