On Falling

The impressive directorial feature debut of Laura Carreira is a powerful account of the gig economy and the loneliness of working-class immigrants caught up in it. Portuguese worker Aurora is employed by a Scottish fulfilment warehouse, endlessly pacing down aisles and pulling items from shelves to be shipped out to online shoppers. While her shifts are long and her productivity is constantly monitored, her wages are minimal and she can barely afford to eat. Her gruelling days are punctuated by a few precious moments of connection, especially when her busy lodgings welcomes a new Polish flatmate. Carreira’s skilfully directed and heartbreaking portrait of an isolated woman on the cusp of unravelling is gripping. With shades of Chantal Ackerman’s Jeanne Dielman and the indelible spirit of Ken Loach, On Falling is a rage against the capitalist machine, and a very worthy winner of the Sutherland Award for Best First Feature at the 2024 BFI London Film Festival.

Kimberley Sheehan, Lead Programmer

Audio Description available at all screenings. The screenings on Saturday 8 March 13:30 NFT2; Monday 10 March 20:30 NFT3; Tuesday 11 March 14:30 NFT4; Wednesday 12 March 18:10 NFT4 will be presented with additional Descriptive Subtitles of non-dialogue audio.

The screening of On Falling on Friday 7 March 18:00 NFT1 will include a Q&A with director Laura Carreira and producer Jack Thomas-O’Brien.

The first screening of On Falling is in partnership with Glasgow Film Festival.