Stockholm Film Festival

Paul Schrader’s vigorous directorial debut from 1978, the down-to-earth working-class drama “Blue Collar”, asks its question in a reproaching tone: What became of the American Dream? The film, said to be one of the last Hollywood moviesto seriously look at the conditions of the workingclass, portrays Zeke, Jerry and Smokey (HarveyKeitel, Richard Pryor and Yaphet Kotto) who workhard in unsafe conditions and for low wages atone of industrial Detroit’s car plants. Havingtrouble keeping food on their families’ tables,the trio’s financial desperation leads them torob the local union’s bureau safe. Though thehaul of only 600 dollars is disappointing, theysoon realize that they also got their hands onmaterial fit to blackmail the corrupt union; a discovery that puts their lives at risk.All of the acting is excellent, but Richard Pryoris outstanding, showing that he is so muchmore than just a gifted comedian. Accordingto Schrader, it was a tense shoot, as the threeleading actors argued constantly: Pryor evenpunched Keitel several times. While the film wasnot a commercial success when it was released,it has since attained cult status.

Cast

Richard Pryor, Harvey Keitel, Yaphet Kotto

Producer

Don Guest

Script

Paul Schrader

Cinematography

Bobby Byrne

Music

Jack Nitzche

Spoken language

English

 

Other films from the Lifetime Achievement Award section

See all the festival films from 2007