The outsourcing of American jobs was briefly a semi-hot topic during the 2004 presidential campaign, though ultimately the issue was overshadowed by the war in Iraq. Filmmaker Greg Spotts shot this hour-long documentary during the first half of 2004, interviewing a variety of people from all over America: unemployed textile mill workers and software programmers, several members of Congress who were vehemently opposed to NAFTA when it was first proposed in the early 1990s, and frustrated union leaders unable to halt job losses in the manufacturing sector. While it is clearly an important subject that deserves serious debate and consideration, Spotts' film disappointingly serves up no hard questions for politicians or union organizers over their seeming impotence in stopping the jobs exodus (while also forgetting that American manufacturing jobs have been slowly slipping overseas since the 1950s, and actually began picking up steam two decades before NAFTA). In addition, American Jobs features a lengthy segment on violent crime in Juarez, Mexico, following the introduction of NAFTA-rooted manufacturing to that city, although how that directly relates to the stated subject of American unemployment is never made clear. Even worse, Spotts repeatedly calls attention to himself throughout the film, beginning with the rather complex opening sequence in which he assembles his video camera equipment (he comes across like a bland, benign shadow of Michael Moore--clearly enjoying the spotlight, but not doing much to justify his presence there). Still, for all its flaws, there's no denying the fact that the very affordably priced American Jobs would be popular, and may well encourage important dialogue. Recommended, with reservations. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)
American Jobs
(2004) 60 min. DVD: $14.95. The Disinformation Company (avail. from most distributors). Color cover. ISBN: 0-9760672-0-X. Volume 20, Issue 2
American Jobs
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