A new feature film, On Falling, written and directed by Scottish filmmaker Laura Carreira, delves into the isolation and job insecurity faced by immigrant workers in the gig economy. The film follows Aurora, a timid and lonely migrant woman working as a warehouse “picker” in Scotland, where her life is dictated by the relentless pace of a machine and the constant monitoring of her productivity.
In her debut feature, Carreira explores the harsh reality of precarious gig work, a reality that many immigrants face as they navigate a foreign land, trying to make ends meet while dealing with emotional and physical isolation. Aurora’s daily life unfolds in the cold, unfeeling environment of a massive warehouse, where the sound of a bleeping machine is the only guide to her work, and her existence outside of it is marked by loneliness, cheap meals, and endless scrolling through social media.
On Falling presents a stark portrayal of the gig economy, where human connections are often overshadowed by the pressures of efficiency and productivity. “We follow her through a week in which she struggles to make ends meet, alongside her fight with loneliness and alienation,” Carreira explained.
Inspired by the realities of gig work, Carreira began researching the world of warehouse pickers, a role she discovered through her exploration of the gig economy. “When companies boast about efficiency and fast delivery times, I assumed it was all down to technology,” she said. “But in reality, it’s people rushing through warehouses, under pressure to meet precise times, and that’s when I realized—this is a story worth telling.”
Having moved to Scotland at the age of 18 to pursue film studies in Edinburgh, Carreira’s perspective as an immigrant herself played a crucial role in shaping the story. “I began interviewing pickers and found that many of them were economic migrants,” she shared. “I realized that I could tell this story through the lens of a Portuguese female character, which also mirrored my own immigrant experience.”
Carreira reflected on the challenges of those early years in a foreign country. “You don’t have social ties, you feel isolated, and you experience both loneliness and exploitation more intimately. Without those connections, you have less security and fewer protections,” she said. “But I think anyone who works in the gig economy can relate to some aspects of what Aurora is going through.”
On Falling made its debut at the London Film Festival last October and is currently being shown at the Watershed cinema in Bristol through March 20, in collaboration with the Glasgow Film Festival. Carreira hopes her film highlights not only the struggles of immigrant workers but also their resilience.
“Part of the immigrant experience is the pursuit of a better life, but sometimes that dream doesn’t materialize as expected,” she noted. “Still, some do find their way and create a sense of belonging, which is a positive aspect of the immigrant journey.”
While On Falling portrays the struggles of its protagonist, Carreira also wanted to showcase the kindness and compassion that can emerge even in the darkest of circumstances. “Despite the film’s darker moments, it was important for me to preserve the goodness of others,” she said. “There’s this idea that we’re all competing against one another, but in reality, people genuinely care for each other. As a migrant, you come to understand that in a way that others might not, and I wanted that perspective in the film.”
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