AMERICAN SWEATSHOP – Review by Liz Whittemore
There is much to unpack in Uta Briesewitz’s new feature American Sweatshop. The film follows Daisy, a 25-year-old whose job is inarguably the worst. She is a social media content moderator. Daisy spends her days watching morally questionable videos reported by the online community. She then decides whether they warrant a pass based on Freedom of Speech or if they are hateful, offensive, gory, or unlawful enough to hit delete.
Surrounded by co-workers who either do not last, act out in anger spurts, or use drugs to disassociate, Daisy comes across one particularly dark video. The shadowy yet highly produced clip features a young woman strapped to a bed. A hooded man with a hammer and nail approaches her, while an unknown man is seen as a lecherous viewer in the background. Upon the striking of the hammer and the young woman’s scream, Daisy passes out. The aftermath becomes a vengeful obsession.
The film discusses the complexity of intent. After deleting a video of a woman jumping from a building, Daisy is admonished for violating company policy. Unsurprisingly, it is profit over people. It speaks to our ceaseless attachment to our phones. Rage bait is, in fact, all the rage.
Knowing that there are people behind the keyboard who choose to endure such depravity is astounding.
Just scanning Uta’s television episodes, you will understand her intrinsic ability to keep an audience on the edge of their seats. She and writer Matthew Nemeth are well-paired. His deliberate pacing reels you in with drips and drabs of constant intrigue, from Daisy’s work-life balance to her moral obsession.
American Sweatshop boasts engaging editing. The title card is pure genius. Cinematographer Jörg Widmer uses a skewed reflection of Reinhart’s pupil to show pieces of the video, allowing our imagination and worst fears to fill in the blanks. The audience gets their first wider watch, and only in part, fifty-two minutes into the runtime as Daisy replays it on her laptop, searching for any clue to the identity of the featured male voyeur. A lot of Daisy’s PTSD from her viewing manifests overnight. The video plays on loop in her dreams. Widmer creates further isolation with little more than moonlit closeups. The repeated theme of shadow, blurred vision, and angst creates a perfect storm of anxiety.
Joel Fry plays Daisy’s emotionally volatile co-worker, Bob. He has a magnetic presence. His stage experience is perfect for this role. Jeremy Ang Jones plays Paul, the company’s newest employee, with kindness and quick wit. Both have fantastic chemistry with our leading lady. Lili Reinhart is sensational. Her sardonic wit mixed with authentic vulnerability captivates. Reinhart brings Daisy to life by leaning into her chaos. Nemeth delivers a multifaceted character on paper, and Reinhart brings her to life.
American Sweatshop thrives in the ethically ambiguous. The final scene is a chef’s kiss. The script delves into warranted female rage with shocking complexity. Daisy represents so many women who bend the rules until they break because society forces their hands. Daisy is a surprisingly iconic character who will have audiences slow-clapping and nodding their heads in approval.
