Introduction
The American Factory is a Netflix original film talking about the journey of an Asian company trying to establish itself in Moraine, Ohio, as an auto-glass manufacturing factory on a previously owned General Motors (G.M.) assembly plant. A stunning yet captivating documentary project by Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert focuses its lenses on telling a story to the world about Fuyao, who created a lot of jobs and revitalized an industry, and his esteemed employees (many of whom were formerly employed at the General Motors plant.).
The film showcases a phenomenal cultural difference between the Chinese and American communities, growing pains, internal and external conflicts, and the changing attitudes about work in light of ever-increasing globalization. This paper will discuss an in-depth analysis of the fundamental issues portrayed in this fantastic Oscar Award-winning film for Best Documentary Feature in 2020.
Main body
Neoliberalism is the fundamental aspect to consider when understanding the success of the American Factory as it communicates the political and economic ideology. The sole objective of Neoliberalism is to disintegrate the holding process of Keynesian nostrums on a capital basis and the state. The structure and landscape of consumption and production have changed in the recent past concerning globalization, free trade, and deregulation. It is precisely the case that the film industry is susceptible to the interchanges; however, how extremely does a movie propound a counter-good judgment at the extent of form?
The movie American Factory tries to clarify further that Neoliberalism is not a slogan, and neither does it submit to a logical location. It deeply asks how the world receives instructions and who, within Neoliberalism and any transition from it, gets to tell it.
In the film American Factory, Bognar and Reichert delve deep into the livelihoods of the American workers in Ohio and the problematic transition experienced by Chinese managers to American work culture and way of life. Furthermore, the documentary touches on key fundamental socio-economic issues such as unionization and work safety measures while still showcasing the difference in cultural setups between the two communities and the culture clash resulting from the acquisition.
A discussion has been fronted among Chinese and U.S. communities on cultural differences concerning work. For instance, Chinese workers have proven to be relatively skilled over their counterparts on the dimensions of productivity that matter, effectiveness, and speed. They perform better and work for longer periods. On the contrary, many American workers do not possess the work experience necessary for an auto-glass-producing factory.
In the film, we encounter charming scenes of the American and Chinese coworkers having positive bonding experiences, getting to know one another, and even a spectacular recorded location of Fuyao chairperson, Cao Dewang, making rounds on the revitalized factory.
He candidly talks about several essential changes he plans to implement in the company’s architectural structure. However, interpersonal tensions alongside cultural and country-wide strains play out at Fuyao Glass America. This tension comes about due to Fuyao being a multinational corporation operating in America and paying its workers relatively minimal wages than its predecessors.
General Motors’ employees received higher wages before the recession and worked under a union contract. These same employees of the in-glass company come to work with the exact expectations and feel that the Fuyao management should do better. Safety concerns are also on high alert. American employees claim to be uncovered to risky degrees of heat inside the workplace, as portrayed in the film by Reichert and Bognar. The Chinese community is also subjected to a string of coarsely generic, sometimes cringe-worthy talks about American culture.
The president of the glass company advises his Asian employees of their brothers in the United States, stating, “We need to use our wisdom to guide and help them because we’re better than them.”
American Factory further tries to explain in several ways the division between union supporters and union busters and between management and workers. Fuyao management establishes talks on several occasions to educate them about the American work culture and the importance of union organizations to workers. The true feelings among the Chinese community against union organizations are still unknown to many, a factor that may be significantly influenced by the migration and visa status of most of these Chinese workers.
Fuyao’s management style is borrowed from a playbook called the anti-union, which is usually used by American companies. An interesting theory is Fuyao glass factory has been in business since its inception and has been making profits supplying glass to all the General Motors shops worldwide. However, paying the same previous workers much lower wages compared to before. It is a correct argument to suggest that G.M. has employed more foreign workers than Americans in the U.S.
On the issue of culture and productivity, this documentary, American Factory, showcased sufficient evidence of the role that autonomy and trust perform in industrial manufacturing in Chinese markets. They appear to listen carefully and eagerly while getting their superior’s advice and directions more than their American colleagues. Also, a few of them acknowledge the difficulties they experience when working long hours and in very hot-hazardous environments. They have to work many miles away from their families and friends.
Due to its one-sided narration of the factory, highlighting cultural variations while ignoring the advantages to nearby workers, the movie, in a single experience, will no doubt make contributions to an understanding that Chinese funding in U.S. production is something to be avoided and in that respect, the film has a decidedly anti-China thrust.
Conclusion
In conclusion, American Factory highlights how Chinese commercial enterprise within America hurts the workers; however, it doesn’t forestall the problem: its eyes are, in the end, on us all to create the destiny of labor. America has to stay open to exchange and funding from different international locations to rebuild our efficient abilities and enhance our people’s dwindling preference of living. China will now no longer become a “savior” of U.S. production; however, at the same time, Chinese funding needs to no longer be demonized, as we’re tending to do today.
We cannot forget that China maintains its door open to corporations from the U.S. and the relaxation of the arena below the condition that the American president management is enforcing more great price lists on Chinese imports and persevering with the change battle that the quit can’t be seen. Compared to the U.S., China is greater assured of embodying a globalized world.
Reference
Hitchcock, P., (2021) “American Factory” and the Difficulties of Documenting Neoliberalism,” Global Storytelling: Journal of Digital and Moving Images 1(1).