Venice documentaries spotlight US workers and migrants

Two documentaries at the Venice Film Festival are focusing on workers and migrants in the United States, with Oscar-winning filmmakers Barbara Kopple and Laura Poitras among the directors presenting the films.

Kopple's "Union Town" debuted Wednesday at the festival. The film is the third in a trilogy about worker struggles by the 80-year-old US director, after "Harlan County U.S.A." in 1976 and "American Dream" in 1990.

The documentary centres on New York City union efforts to pressure companies including UPS and Amazon for better wages and benefits for employees and part-time workers. It also follows delivery app riders for companies such as GrubHub and DoorDash, highlighting dangers and costs they face.

Kopple told AFP that workers were still fighting for union rights, decent pay, safe workplaces and respect. Antonio Rosario, a Teamster featured in the film, called US labour law today "like the wild, wild West".

Another Venice documentary, "They're Here" by Poitras and Rachel Lauren Mueller, looks at US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's deployment to Minneapolis in January. Mueller said the film aimed to include the immigrant perspective, including fear of family separation and people hiding at home.

Poitras said the film would be released in the United States ahead of the US midterm elections. She won the Golden Lion at Venice in 2022 for "All the Beauty and the Bloodshed".