The Machinist's Lament (2014): cast, story & where to watch
2014 · Film · ★ 8
Released in 2014, The Machinist's Lament is a notable film directed by Jen Liu, running about 18 minutes.
What it’s about. "In factories, everyone has their place. Western industrial production is a site of magical thinking: an old history that will never return, an idealized construction that never really was. It's impossible to know what the true costs would be if it were to return - societal, environmental, and psychological – and yet, entire political campaigns are built around this. This piece speculates on re-industrialization, and is a sequel to my 2013 video, Safety First (Bad, Don’t Touch, Mercy!). Like its prequel, it posits a non-specific future populated by female factory workers. The geometric aesthetics of power and the romance of industrial-era alienation, are paired with theoretical and fictional texts about alternate social economies. Video footage was shot in Ohio, animation and soundtrack by the artist. Voiceover text sources include Industrial supply catalogs, OSHA safety manuals, Monique Wittig’s Les Guerilleres, and Adorno’s Minima Moralia." -Taken from Jen Liu's Vimeo page.
Who’s in it. The Machinist's Lament stars Wang Si as CHOREOGRAPHER / MASK DANCER / TEST SUBJECT, Xu Mengchen as Test Scientist, Joelle Lingat as Test Chorus and Katherine Hamilton as Test Chorus.
How it landed. With an audience score of 8.0/10, The Machinist's Lament sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Machinist's Lament page.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Machinist's Lament (2014)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Machinist's Lament change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is The Machinist's Lament worth watching?
- The Machinist's Lament holds an audience score of 8.0 out of 10. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Machinist's Lament?
- The Machinist's Lament stars Wang Si, Xu Mengchen, Joelle Lingat and Katherine Hamilton.
- When was The Machinist's Lament released?
- The Machinist's Lament was released in 2014, with a runtime of about 18 minutes.