Still Working 9 to 5 gives us an insider look into the beloved classic while highlighting its legacy and importance today, 40 years later.
“Film is a way to throw light into dark corners,” we hear during one of the interviews in Still Working 9 to 5. As the documentary shows us, this is true for the 1980 film 9 to 5 which shed light on the realities of gender inequality in the workplace. It is also very much of a mission statement for this documentary itself, which wants to explore the legacy of its film and its relevance today. As the audience watches the film, the question comes naturally: did anything really change in these 40 years if the commentary 9 to 5 raises on gender inequality is still relevant today?
Still Working 9 to 5 uses the talking heads documentary style to reflect back on the production of the film it is inspired by, 9 to 5, a 1980 American comedy film directed and co-written by Colin Higgins. The film notably stars Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton as three overworked secretaries who want to get revenge on their boss, Dabney Coleman. All four main characters, along with co-writer Patricia Resnick and the director all come back in this documentary to discuss their perspective on the film, 40 years later. The movie also features many activists for women’s rights who discuss the feminist movement and the need for change at the time.
