Sorry We Missed You(2019)
dir. Ken Loach
The gig economy takes the whole family.
Where to watch: Free on Kanopy, Hoopla; rentLetterboxd ↗
Ricky, a Newcastle man who needs work, buys a van to become a 'self-employed' franchise delivery driver. His wife Abby, a home-care worker, sells her car to help pay for it. The film follows a family as the gig model eats their time, then their kids' lives. Written by Paul Laverty.
Why it’s here
The film shows how a contract that calls you your own boss moves all the risk onto you. What's punk is that it refuses a villain you can punch: the system does the work. What's pedagogical is the mechanics: fines, unpaid hours, who owns the van. Pairs with Nickel and Dimed and Bullshit Jobs. A hard watch for parents.
Where This Film Lives
- Setting
- United Kingdom
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