Blue Collar

In the gritty and unforgiving world of 1970s Detroit, a sense of desperation hangs in the air among the working class. For three auto assembly line workers, Frank Riley, Jerry Lewis, and Eddie Fusco, the daily grind has taken a toll on their physical and mental well-being. Exhaustion and frustration have become their constant companions, fueled by the never-ending cycle of poverty and exploitation. Frank Riley, played by Richard Pryor, has finally reached his breaking point. A union shop steward, Frank has dedicated himself to fighting for the rights of his fellow workers, only to be met with scorn and indifference from the very people who are supposed to represent them. He works tirelessly to address grievances and champion the cause of justice, yet his efforts are consistently rebuffed. When a fellow union member is let go unjustly, Frank's exasperation boils over, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation with the union leadership. Jerry Lewis, played by Harvey Keitel, is a quiet and brooding individual, haunted by the memories of his troubled past. He works in silence, driven by a desire to escape the drudgery of his daily routine. Jerry is not one to rock the boat, preferring to keep his head down and avoid conflict. However, when the opportunity for a break from the monotony arises, Jerry is drawn to it like a moth to flame. Eddie Fusco, played by Yaphet Kotto, is the charismatic and cunning leader of the group. A natural troublemaker, Eddie has a mischievous glint in his eye, always on the lookout for the next score. When Eddie presents his plan to rob the union headquarters' safe, Jerry is initially hesitant, but Frank, fueled by his anger and resentment, sees it as a chance to take a stand against the corrupt system that has wronged him. The plan, which Eddie carefully hatches, involves creating a diversion by sabotaging the assembly line, allowing the three men to sneak into the union headquarters undetected. There, they will bypass the security measures and crack open the safe, where millions of dollars in union dues and pension funds are stored. As the night of the heist approaches, the tension builds among the group. Jerry's apprehensions are slowly assuaged, but Frank's zeal for revenge grows, driving him to take risks that put the entire operation in jeopardy. Meanwhile, Eddie's charisma and leadership prove to be a double-edged sword – while he inspires confidence and loyalty in his fellow workers, he also leaves a trail of deception and betrayal in his wake. On the night of the robbery, chaos erupts at the assembly line, as planned. While Eddie creates a diversion, Jerry and Frank slip away to begin their mission. However, events quickly spiral out of control, as Eddie becomes increasingly erratic and Frank's anger gets the better of him. Their differing motivations and personalities come to a head in a climactic confrontation that will determine the fate of the heist and the future of the three men involved. In the end, the aftermath of the heist plays out in a stark and unflinching light. As the dust settles, the full extent of the consequences becomes clear. While the union's coffers have been breached, the three men have also taken a toll on one another. Betrayals have been committed, alliances have been tested, and the very bonds of friendship have been strained. The film ends on a haunting note, with Frank struggling to come to terms with the fallout. His crusade for justice has been reduced to personal vendettas and reckless behavior, leaving him alone and adrift in a world where the boundaries of right and wrong have become blurred. In the words of Paul Schrader, the film's writer and director, "Blue Collar" is a stark, unflinching portrayal of the disillusionment and despair that has come to define the lives of the working class.