Watch The Organizer

The Organizer is a powerful Italian drama film directed by Mario Monicelli in 1963. The movie is set in the early 1900s and depicts the unglamorous life of migrant workers in Turin, Italy. The story follows the struggles of textile workers, who are oppressed by their factory bosses and often work in life-threatening conditions. Marcello Mastroianni stars in the lead role as a socialist labor organizer, who is attempting to rally the workers and unionize the factory.

Mastroianni's character is very passionate about socialism and is always seeking new opportunities to help the workers who are exploited at their jobs. He is also shown as someone who is constantly in disagreement with his fellow organizers over the best strategy to take for the unionization. At the beginning of the film, he is trying to convince a group of unskilled factory employees, who usually work 12-hour shifts, to join forces with him and demand decent working conditions. Mastroianni's character does not only speak, but also acts out to make his point known to the bosses that he will not back down.

His passion and persistence attract a group of determined workers, led by the rebellious Renato Salvatori. Salvatori's character is a trouble-maker with a criminal record, who has nothing left to lose. He is an idealist who cares deeply for his fellow worker's well-being and is even willing to sacrifice his freedom to get justice for everybody.

Gabriella Giorgelli plays a sensitive and caring woman who also joins the union. She brings some much-needed heart to the film, as she is the one who nurses the sick workers from chronic diseases they have contracted from their factory jobs. She is also shown as someone who is passionate about the cause and is vigilant in her support for revolutionary socialism through the union.

The Organizer is a film that revolves around these three central figures and their comrades, who make up the militant fringe of the labor force. They start organizing and secretly planning protests against the bosses, the police and the church. The movie also tries to capture the difficult life of these workers, realistic in its depiction of horrible working conditions, hunger, and poverty.

Monicelli's direction is masterful; he manages to create a realistic and emotional rendering of this time period in Italian history. The director also deals with the subject of economics in a way that was ahead of its time for the 60's. Although the film is laden with political overtones, it never loses its human touch. The characters and their struggles are very much a reflection of the real-life battles fought by workers during the early 20th century.

The film builds up to a powerful climax as the workers organize their first major strike, which becomes quite violent. The workers maintain a high level of intensity, fighting off police and the factory bosses. The film does not sugarcoat the struggle, showing the harsh reality that comes with organizing and protesting.

The Organizer is an important and impactful movie that is highly recommended for people interested in the history of labor movements in Europe. It shines a light on the strength and determination of those who fought for better working conditions and fair wages. The movie does manage to convey a message of hope and the strength of the workers and their solidarity in the fight for justice.

In conclusion, The Organizer is a vivid and stirring movie that illuminates the struggles and triumphs of the early labor union movements in Italy. It is a must-watch for anybody who is interested in politics, history or the human condition in general. It shows the difficulties and hardships faced by the people who stood up for justice, especially in the face of daunting opposition from the government and the capitalists.