The factory that once employed the entire town and surrounding villages has been closed down due to a questionable privatization process, coinciding with a tragic incident where a group of its workers perished in a deliberately set fire. The remaining workers, devastated by the loss of their loved ones and the subsequent corrupt sale of the factory, initiate protests, but their efforts seem futile, yielding no concrete results. Feeling abandoned not only by the authorities but also by their cherished church, they find themselves seeking solace and answers in the supernatural.
A charismatic woman named Svetlana (Tamara Krcunovic), an ex-convict Miya (Leon Lucev), and other determined workers band together to explore mystical avenues for hope and justice. As they clumsily delve into the mysterious realm, they undergo social, emotional, and sexual liberation, and unexpectedly tap into an inner power they didn't know they possessed.
Toronto IFF (Midnight Madness), Tallinn Black Nights, Göteborg Film Festival, Fest Belgrade (Best Director, Film critics award, FEDEORA Award) a.o.
"Working Class Goes to Hell leads with dry humor as it smoothly shifts gears between being a truly dark horror and a pointed piece of social commentary." - Charles Pulliam-Moore and Andrew Webster THE VERGE
"a master class in escalation" - Kurt Halfyard SCREEN ANARCHY
"exploring how corroded power structures exploit the weak by making them work to keep themselves exploited. It’s a circle more vicious than anything the prince of darkness could dream up."
"a thoughtful effort from Djordjevic that finds its satisfying catharsis in the unlikeliest of places" - Kevin Jagernauth THE FILM VERDICT
"a riveting political horror feature that deftly balances social commentary with occult chills." - Joseph Perry SCARIEST THINGS
"Serbian director Mladen Djordjević continues his uncompromising, wildly imaginative, transgressive and profoundly dark approach" - Vladan Petkovic CINEUROPA
"Simultaneously bleak and hilarious, “Working Class Goes to Hell” takes a firm stance and rides it to a chaotic and uproarious conclusion underscored by the stark realities of a power-hungry world." - Christopher Cross DRINK IN THE MOVIES
"a dark satire with blood, labour solidarity, Satanic rituals, and trashy reality TV. It is unlike anything you’ve seen before." TORONTO FILM FILES
The absurd yet creepy Satanic rituals combined with the group's bleak reality makes Working Class Goes to Hell a jarring but impactful watch - Sabina Wex CBS
Cast
Tamara Krcunovic - Ceca
Leon Lucev - Miya
Momo Picuric - Elijah
Lidija Kordic - Danica
Ivan Djordjevic - Rade
Szilvia Krizsan - Stanka
Mirsad Tuka - Milutin
Olivera Viktorovic - Draginja
Tomislav Trifunovic - Zika
Stefan Shterev - Local Businessman
Crew
Director: Mladen Djordjevic / Writer: Mladen Djordjevic / Cinematorgrapher: Dusan Grubin / Editor: Lazar Predojev / Sound: Nenad Sciban, Momchil Bozhkov / Music: Kalin Nikolov / Art Director: Zorana Petrov / Producer: Milan Stojanovic (Sense Production, RS), Mladen Djordjevic (Banda, RS) / Co-Producers (companies): Martichka Bozhilova, Neda Milanova (Agitprop, BG), Maria Drandaki (Homemade Films, GR), Ivan Marinovic (Adriatic Western, ME), Ankica Juric Tilic (Kinorama, HR), Anamaria Antoci (Tangaj Production, RO), Ivica Vidanovic, Nevena Savic (Cinnamon Film, RS)
Technical Information
Original Title: Radnička klasa ide u pakao / shot digital / available for screenings in DCP 24fps / color / 1:1.85 / 127 min / 5.1 / original language: Serbian with English subtitles / Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Croatia, Romania 2023