Heroes

Filmmaker: Michael Glawogger

“Work is often difficult to see, and therefore difficult to depict.
Physical labour is probably the only real kind of work.”
Michael Glawogger

In today’s technological age, is heavy manual labour disappearing or is it just becoming invisible?

“Our enthusiasm comes from the will to survive. We work to survive. If you don’t work, you’ll freeze to death.“ – A Ukrainian miner

Physical work was once celebrated with hymns of praise. But today workers must be content in the knowledge that their hard work is better than no work at all.

Working Man’s Death looks at the state of physical work across the world today. Work that is dreary, demanding and, at times, dangerous.

In this episode, we go to Ukraine where, amid a bleak landscape, freelance miners spend long days crawling underground to dig out the last pieces of coal from exhausted mine shafts.

As one miner explains: “Of course our pit is illegal according to the law, but we see things differently. The state doesn’t give us work or wages. But we have to survive somehow and feed our families, our children. I’m doing things to survive, no more and no less.”

Working Man’s Death: Heroes can be seen from Tuesday, January 10, at the following times GMT: Tuesday: 2230; Wednesday: 0930; Thursday: 0330; Friday: 1630; Saturday: 2230; Sunday: 0930; Monday: 0330. Click here for more on Working Man’s Death.