American Dream (Film)

American Dream is an award-winning documentary by Barbara Kopple about the labor struggle of the factory workers in Austin, Minnesota in the 1980s. In 1991 he was awarded the Oscar for best documentary.

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The film is about the labor struggle of the workers of the food group Hormel in Austin, Minnesota in 1985 and 1986. Despite a profit of 30 million U.S. dollars Hormel decided to lower the hourly wages of $ 10.69 to $ 8.25 and additional benefits to be reduced by 30 percent. The local employee representatives spoke out against the cuts, but was not supported by the national trade union, the United Food and Commercial Workers. The proclaimed wildcat strike provoked new conflicts and prompted Governor Rudy Perpich, use the National Guard to protect the non-striking workers and the production facility before the strikers.

Over several years, watched Barbara Kopple factory workers and documented on the one hand to strike for better working conditions and better pay, on the other hand, the internal union conflicts, trying through interviews and press releases represent the views of both sides.

Awards

  • Academy Awards: Best Documentary; 1991
  • International Documentary Association IDA Award; 1991
  • Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards: Best Documentary; 1991
  • Sundance Film Festival: Grand Jury Prize, Audience Award and Filmmakers Trophy Documentary; 1991
  • Directors Guild of America: Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary / Actuality; 1992
  • National Society of Film Critics Best Documentary; 1993
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