by Rita di Santo
The highly anticipated debut of Laura Carreira’s “On Falling,” winner of the Sutherland Award for Best First Feature at the 2024 BFI London Film Festival, has finally been released in UK cinemas. “On Falling” is a powerful critique of the capitalist system and is highly commendable. It tells a compelling working-class story of immigration, isolation, and poverty.
The main character, Aurora, works at a Scottish fulfilment warehouse, tirelessly walking down aisles and picking items from shelves to be sent to online shoppers. Her shifts begin early in the morning and end late in the evening. Her productivity is constantly monitored, and her wages are low, barely enough to cover food, electricity, and fuel costs. With little joy in her life, a glimmer of hope appears when her new Polish flatmate, a van driver, invites her out for a drink.
Laura Carreira, a young film director from Portugal, moved to the UK to pursue her dream. She has already created two short films, “Red Hill” and “The Shift,” focusing on workers’ stories. Her films delve deeply into moral integrity and personal artistic authenticity, immersing the audience in the story with a remarkable sense of place and emotion.
Precarious work
This first full feature film examines workers’ situations, drawing from her research and personal experience of emigrating at 18. In an interview with me, Laura shared that her stories are based on research. Her short films on the gig economy led her to explore precarious work, particularly in the logistics industry. She discovered the role of a picker, which inspired her story of Aurora. Laura explained, “The story began to take shape when I discovered that job, with its metaphors—a character working alone for long shifts, timed by the second.” Conversations with pickers influenced her scenes, and she prepared for the movie by touring a warehouse.
She struggled with the film’s ending until warehouse workers shared experiences of outages, which humanized the story and influenced the film. Laura included moments like winning a ‘best worker’ award, which was based on real stories where workers received trivial rewards like chocolate bars. She also highlighted the absurdity of performance rates, where workers were unaware of targets and felt alienated, unsure if they were performing well.
Laura also mentioned that many people highlighted the psychological difficulties of the job, including feelings of despair. Research indicates that warehouse workers frequently endure mental stress, which can lead to suicide attempts. The isolation and constant monitoring associated with the job impact self-esteem, making it hard to break free.
In the film, Aurora’s preoccupation with food represents her financial difficulties. Laura explained, “Aurora faces financial challenges, which we illustrate through her eating habits. Her connection to food symbolizes the warmth and comfort she lacks.”
Wages are inadequate for a decent standard of living. Laura observed, “More than half of warehouse employees face financial difficulties every month, with 15% depending on food banks, even though they work for affluent companies.”
Regarding the casting process, “Yes, half of them were nonprofessional, which enhanced authenticity. We adjusted the script during rehearsals to include a variety of perspectives.”
Regarding moments of solidarity in the film, Laura said, “In a film about hardships, it’s crucial to depict kindness. The antagonist aren’t Aurora’s co-workers, reflecting how society often sets us against one another.”
Laura draws inspiration from Ken Loach and the Dardenne Brothers, striving to depict reality and challenge cinema’s escapism. Reflecting on moving to the UK before Brexit, Laura mentioned, “It would be tougher now. My experiences led me to portray Aurora as Portuguese, emphasizing the contributions of migrants in the UK.”
“I naturally made Aurora a female character because I perceive the world as a woman, which felt more authentic. There are distinct aspects, like her connection with food possibly tied to her menstrual cycle. A male director might miss such nuances, but they stem from my own experiences.”
Engaging with and viewing the film “On Falling” is essential not only for valuing Laura Carreira’s artistic vision but also for grasping the poignant realities encountered by many in today’s world. The movie’s poetic and artistic significance is to be found in its capacity to evoke empathy and stimulate reflection, marking it as an important addition to modern cinema.
Go to the cinema and buy a ticket to watch this movie!
