American Factory | Official Trailer | Netflix

Cultures collide. Hope survives. When a Chinese billionaire re-opens a factory and hires two thousand blue-collar Americans, early days of hope and optimism give way to setbacks as high-tech China clashes with working-class America.

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American Factory | Official Trailer | Netflix

In this documentary, hopes soar when a Chinese company reopens a shuttered factory in Ohio. But a culture clash threatens to shatter an American dream.

[huntrrams]

Next, I would like to see a documentary about the working conditions in a Amazon warehouse.

[Fridayshw]

I work in a European bank that was taken over by Chinese institute. It’s funny because although being a Chinese, I only worked for US and European banks before. Although in a vastly different industry, I found surprisingly a lot of similar situations in this documentary. How our European employees and headquarter people back in China think of each other. How both sides having very different attitude towards risk and compliance. I can only say this is a very interesting documentary as it provided a window to gauge into these new joint-ventures, the people in between these two worlds. I am not saying who is tight and who is wrong coz there is no absolute answer to this question, but I hope everyone gets what he wants somehow, because like the guy said in the film, you will realize sooner or later that no matter the differences, we all want to have a better life, and achieve something with it

[indreamluo]

Can't wait to see Chinese Factory by Elon Musk next season.

[paulcurran]

It's called the American dream because u have to be asleep to believe it.

-George Carlin

[gostraighthrough]

One of the best films I have ever watched. A true contribution to the discussion about the era of automation and globalization.

[QingxiaGuo]

As Chinese I got stunned by many twists in the film. Especially when a senior Chinese manager is propagating American workers the greatness of China and luring them with this trip to Shanghai. He referred the Shanghai 'the same as Manhattan'. And American executives coming to China to learn a more 'efficient way of management'. Some Chinese might see those as the rise of China. But I just feel bitter about what is going on around the world. I was touched by how ordinary people are all the same. Ordinary Americans and Chinese concern the same: their families, living a good life and working hard. But individuals are so vulnerable. Chinese workers are severely regulated. Yet Americans do have a voice, but those voices get marginalized and overpowered by Union consulting company. Rich people have different tactics to deal with workers around globe and it's working quite well. And I am just sad that as individuals, we have no way to stand up and escape from this trap.

[MrBeautiful]

I’ve been working for Mahle a car part factory in Dayton, Ohio based out of Germany for almost three years. Factory work makes you humble.

[aaronia]

“the capitalist had won this time”
“why？did the Chinese fail to open the factory？”
“no，they teached American what real capitalism is”

[stevesmith]

This is one of the best things I've ever seen on Netflix, what a revelation. I don't know who to feel more sorry for, perhaps the Chinese workers because they seem to unquestioningly accept their treatment as normal.

[pearlyone]

This was one of the most riveting and compelling documentaries I've seen in a long time. If someone doesn't have Neflix, get the 30 day free trial just to be able to 'experience' this documentary. It's painful, sad and very real.

[attilabalint]

I watched this movie recently. One (imo) crucial difference between the two groups of workers have been not highlighted. The middle-aged US ones had families and established lives on the spot. It's perfectly understandable that they want off-weekends to spend some quality time with their kids. On the other hand, the Chinese contingent were mostly young men with families on the other side of the ocean (children, if any, are raised by the grandparents I suppose). It's my understanding that most conveyor workers in China are inland migrants from poorer regions, and this kind of life and the chance to make some savings are actually improvement for them.

The local labour law (Ohio?) must be very lax or it's not enforced properly if they can fire employees just like that. But the approach of the Chinese management (and their attitude towards unionizing) is not that particular, Japanese and Korean companies do the same in Eastern Europe. If an union is formed, they retaliate and do their best to ignore it ( I see you, Suzuki) and despite specific labour laws, certain governments actually enable their conduct with doing nothing.

The situation with the German automakers here is better only because of the geographical proximity, and the German homeland has very strong unions that do not want more jobs outsourced to the cheaper subsidiaries. German union federations like IG Metall actually maintain offices abroad and seek out the local organizations. I don't know if they are operating along the same lines in Canada or Mexico.

 And I have to say, that's a lot fat people in the movie.

[Quetzal_]

My mom was one of the people who worked on the film. I’m so proud of her.

[bunnyking]

reverse is also true. American companies have sweatshops in China too

[pvm]

The world is changing rapidly. Hold on to your seats and think ahead!

[benlee]

Many ppl are arguing whether China is a country of Capitalism or Communism. As a resident of China, I can tell you that China is neither a capitalist country nor a communist one. Chinese only believe in pragmatism. Whatever system is good for the development during a particular period, we adopt it. That’s so called ‘with Chinese characters’.

[gaoscarlett]

I have a small company, the biggest pressure and headache daily is thinking how to keep their work, how to guarantee their salary on time, how to keep the business as long as possible.... your feet decides your vision, everyone has choice to stay or leave, nobody is wrong to be criticized. Always remember company is a ship in the sea helplessly, to survive or die together is in each hand.

[Lovez]

More in common with each other than with the billionaires, no matter what race or nationality.

[melbournemel]

I recently watched this doc and found it insightful. In my country, PNG, I have sporadic short work engagements with Chinese companies/individuals here. However, recently I got a longer than usual stint and am working as an interpreter for a chinese company in a remote part of my country. My job basically is to interpret between locals and chinese workers who are involved in constructing power transmission lines that run between about 5 provinces cutting through the breadth of the country.
My country is not even on par with America's standard of getting things done. As an interpreter I have a vintage point view of what both parties do. The Chinese work ethic and organisation skills are consistent and dedicated, yet at times I feel like they abuse my small countries laws and even at times exploit workers who are casual labourers.
Watching this doc has given me feelings of similarity, however, I can safely say that we have it worse from our Companies operating here. Especially, given the fact that my country is corrupt and have bad leaders.
So much I want to say but don't have the courtesy of typing since I am at work. I work a 7:15-5:15 job seven days a week. Wheew! Get paid a thousand dollars a month. I did the conversion

[bhlakbatosai]

People need to see Michael Keaton's movie from the 80s "Gong Ho." Although a comedy, it also showed the fear Americans had losing their auto manufacturing jobs.

[brianho]

This is a very good and sincere documentary for showing the working cultures of two different styles. Being a HongKonger standing between West and East, this film let you further understanding how mainland Chinese "Private" Enterprise operates. There is no right or wrong, but only differentiate from can you survive or not survive in a business environment. One of the Manager in the film mentioned that GM, Chrysler, Honda and Toyota see not difference of their suppliers as far as they meet the price and specification. It leaves the supplier's managemnet team for adjusting operation condition (i.e. stigient or relaxing operation parameters) in order to substantiate their business mode (needs continuous adjusting and also varies from country to country). Really learn something after watching this high quality Netflix documentary. I heard this film was produced by Obama and his wife, a good job of ex US president for bringing two kind of people more understanding each together👍
Thanks again.