I Like Working

Comencini (who made the superb ‘Carlo Giuliani, a Boy’ and contributed to this year’s LFF entry ‘Visions of Europe’) based this low-key but powerful tale of harassment in the workplace on the testimonies of numerous victims, making for authenticity and insight. Braschi is excellent as the single mother who’s moved from the accounts desk she’s had for years when a conglomerate takes over the company; soon she feels she’s being given futile or unpleasant jobs so that she’ll leave out of despair, humiliation or even fear… and meanwhile her relationship with her daughter is suffering. The light, almost Loachian naturalism of performance and direction, coupled with a mostly subtle script, produce an all too plausible indictment of a contemptible aspect of much modern employment practice. Lovely music, too, from the great Trovesi and Coscia.