The first metaphor in the history of cinema was the image of labor and workers. For centuries, labor has been a central theme in film and documentary, signifying not only means of livelihood but also a vital link between self-realization and community existence. This study investigates the cultural implications of labor’s representation by analyzing two significant films: Two Days, One Night by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne from Belgium, and Factory Complex by Korean director Im Heung-soon. In the 21st century, the dimensions and sites of labor have rapidly diversified through the rise of platform labor, automation driven by artificial intelligence, flexible and precarious employment, emotional work, and creative labor. This research focuses on how film and media have adapted to portray workers’ roles and identities amid these transformations. At this turning point, workers are no longer depicted solely as traditional producers; instead, their roles and identities are being reshaped by digital platforms and AI. Factory Complex employs archival footage, experimental mise-en-scène, interviews, and documentary techniques to convey the instability and solidarity of women workers as their labor shifts from industrial to digital environments. Two Days, One Night uses the realism of direct cinema to explore individual psychology, anxiety, perseverance, and the search for solidarity. The core theoretical framework draws on Hannah Arendt’s concept of "homo laborans", viewing labor as a fundamental aspect of the human condition and a basis for worldliness and solidarity. Through this lens, the study analyzes narrative structure, character development, and visual language to examine how these films portray labor and workers’ identities in the changing socio-economic context.

Authors:
Sun Hee Choi, Korea University, South Korea

About the Presenter(s)
I am preparing a doctoral dissertation on media diversity. My previous research projects have included a study on the impact of OTT industry development on the film industry and its policy implications.

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