Not Working: The Pulse of the Great Recession

The aftermath of the 2008 financial crash witnessed the abrupt termination of thousands of jobs, and for many the so-called “recovery” remains elusive. Not Working—which takes its inspiration from Studs Terkel's 1974 classic Working—serves up an oral history of the experiences of diverse individuals who found their livelihoods wrecked. The 2008 crash was an equal opportunity destroyer: men and women of different social and economic experiences, based in urban and rural settings, all struggle here to come to terms with their situation. Some cases are extreme—most notably, the Nevada factory town of Empire, which saw its population move away following the closure of a manufacturing plant that employed a majority of the local residents. A few try to plot an entrepreneurial course that would enable them to become their own employers. While this documentary doesn't have the eloquence or raw emotional power of Terkel's book, it deserves kudos for giving a voice to those forgotten during the recent years of economic hardship. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)