The Organizer (I compagni (1963)

Mastroianni (the Organizer) plants the germs of industrial
 warfare in the hearts of disgruntled factory workers.

Exploited factory workers in Turin, Italy in the early Nineteen Hundreds go on strike. Sounds dreary? Italian neo-realism can sometimes be a little bit trying on the faculties. But watching this you can at least marvel at your present day working conditions, if you're living in Australia that is (I won't speak for other countries)...and not working in some of those sweat shops I hear about. Fourteen hour days with half hour breaks for lunch anyone? Why I can achieve that over two days and with a few other breaks and perks thrown in between. But I suppose you can get used to anything, including work.
Marcello Mastroianni is the 'organizer' in this flick, who comes to Turin to save the workers from the tyranny of the wealthy and servitude to the bosses - one and the same. He can see the injustices and has great oratory powers that can move people into the desired action. He does not however avoid the inevitable incarceration by the powers that be and the film ends realistically with a feeling that things will be on the up for the poor of Turin in the not too distant future. Beautifully photographed in black and white and cast with credible characters this film has humour thrown in too to keep things light and the tragic scenes not too melodramatic. There are some terrific scenes too which illustrate amply the power of money, none more than when the diminutive figure of the wealthy owner of the factory is wheel-chaired around dictating to all sycophants and sundry how things are going to be. It makes you wonder in amazement at the sheer power of social position and money and how it can make people dizzy at the mere smell of it.
Highly recommended to all students of history and politics and lovers of fine cinema.