Workers.coop Film Club? What shall we watch?

I’m looking into running an online film club on a regular basis to share and enjoy films together which are connected to co-operation and worker control.

I haven’t worked out all the logistics yet but as I figure it out it would be great to build up a list of things we might screen! All suggestions welcome.

1 Like

Taste of Hope - about a french tea packing worker co-op https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQgVnqP3YTo

2 Likes

There’s a recent 4-part documentary series about Mutual Aid groups in the USA. I thought the first one was great, and very well produced: Chapter 1: Fire | The Elements of Mutual Aid | English Subs - kolektiva.media

1 Like

The Take about the Recuperadas in Argentina was a good watch https://www.thetake.org/

Last year there was a screening of a film about The Quay Co-op in Cork which set out its radical roots.

1 Like

Thanks for these suggestions! Keep them coming, I’m looking into screening rights to get some lined up.

Focused on housing co-ops rather than worker co-ops but a wonderful film that goes deep into co-operative politics and culture:

Cath Muller had a copy of the DVD a few years ago - it might still be around.

New Day Films (a coop) is a brilliant source of radical films and might well have some about worker co-ops.

Also, check out Sands Films and see what they’ve got

1 Like

“The Food Co-op” is a real banger - a warm, amusing, character-led - and inspiring - feature documentary about the incredible Park Slope Food Co-op in Brooklyn, with 7000 members.

2 Likes

Laugh or cry? I laughed but I am a sick boy. There is some seriously nasty violence in this story of peace loving hippies attacking each other. Some of the “co-ops” turned out to be benevolent dictatorships, until the benevolence was stripped away…I think it was @scott who put me onto this one

4 Likes

Don’t think they were all hippies! If I recall the ‘wars’ were initiated by stalinists in the SNCC. Not all food coopers are peace and love!

2 Likes

Some of those groups are still causing problems.

One London housing co-op has been quietly getting rid of all the older people, and this has been directly caused by people from some of the “authoritarian left” groups. :frowning:

1 Like