The plight of America's working poor is examined in this unsettling but compassionate PBS-aired documentary directed by two-time Oscar nominee Roger Weisberg (Sound and Fury). Edited from footage shot over a three-year period, Waging a Living follows four hardworking people who attempt to improve their situations but find themselves struggling to keep their heads above water, financially speaking. The responsibilities of raising children, caring for sick relatives, and paying off the seemingly endless string of bills prevent these low-wage workers from getting ahead, despite their best efforts to find better-paying jobs or continue their educations. Weisberg generates tremendous sympathy for these folks, who play by the rules but remain fixed at the low end of the economic totem pole—victims of a dysfunctional system that offers little support for people in their positions. Presented in a straightforward narrative, without a lot of academic jargon or political posturing, this deeply moving film is highly recommended. DVD extras include the bonus film “Roosevelt's America” and an interview with the filmmaker. Aud: C, P. (E. Hulse)
Waging a Living
(2005) 85 min. DVD: $26.95. Docurama (avail. from most distributors). Color cover. ISBN: 0-7670-9037-3. Volume 21, Issue 5
Waging a Living
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