Streik!

An insightful look at the strike in Sauda.

This documentary drama depicts the five-week Sauda strike of 1970. After production was reorganized at Sauda Smelteverk, the furnace workers became more productive but fell behind in pay and went on strike. They received no support from LO, but colleagues at the company and people across the country took their side. Strike leader Jan Fjeld made clear that he drew on Marxism-Leninism, and the film depicts both internal opposition to the politicization of the struggle and the solidarity outside the workplace in the fight to secure decent living conditions for the workers.

Tuhus’ film about the drama in Sauda met with strong opposition, and all the names had to be changed. The film was shown in a prestigious programme in Cannes and acquired by both MOMA and RAI, but, ironically, these screenings were stopped by a strike.