Who wants to work anyway? In an equally funny and gripping documentary, John Webster gets to the bottom of the problems of modern office life. Bullshit jobs, endless meetings, and burnout induced Sisyphus work are questioned with much irony from an economic, psychological, and anthropological point of view, giving a voice to both those affected and experts. How does a toxic work environment develop, which almost systematically prevents creativity and joy? This film looks for answers and finds them in incompetent managers, the school system, and capitalism.
Press
“The Happy Worker argues for a better, more meaningful, future.” Rob Aldam for BACKSEAT MAFIA
“Webster takes us behind the facade and reveals the systemic problems which characterizes the workplace, exploring everything from a culture of silence, shallow changes and incompetent leaders, to how we are educating our children.” Liv-Hilde Siri Dimmestøl for OSLOPIX.NO
Awards
2022 – CPH:DOX, Denmark
2022 – Sheffield International Documentary Festival, UK
2022 – Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival, Czechia
2022 – Bergen International Film Festival, Norway
Director's Biography
His films cover a wide area of subjects, but typical to his films are human-interest stories with strong central characters whose lives are followed over a long period of time. Over the years his films have been broadcast to a wide international audience, screened and awarded at festivals, and two of his films have received the Finnish Jussi-award.