THE GOOD BOSS

Spain, 2021, 120 minutes, Colour.

Javier Bardem, Manolo Solo, Almudena Amor, Oscar de la Fuente, Sonia Almarcha, Tarik Rmili Celso Bugallo.

Directed by Fernando Leon de Aranoa.

Of course, and by the end of this drama, with its touches of ironic humour, we are in a better position to comment on what a good boss can be like.

The setting for this Spanish story is a factory which produces all kinds of scales, the CEO, Blanco, inheriting the company from his father. The factory is expecting a visit from a local committee because it is a strong candidate for an industry award. Another for a large wall already studied with plaques.

The success of the film and its enticing its audience is the presence and performance of Javier bardem. He has an inherent charm. But, even with the charm, we see that he is a strong and determined character, and touches of ruthlessness which will emerge. We see him speaking to his employees, genial, urging them on. But, there are many many problems.

The film uses the structure of highlighting life in the factory over eight days, signalling each day of the week. The factory seems to be running well, production, contracts, international deals, trucking equipment… However, the smooth running is marred by the response of an accountant who has been fired. He brings his young children to the factory to protest his firing, denouncing Blanco. And, then, he sets up a protest camp on public ground opposite the entry to the factory, placards, bullhorn, denunciations every time Blanco arrives or leaves. The protester is not entirely a sympathetic character, even when he brings his children to demonstrate with him, but his situation does raise issues of justice, hiring and firing and social consequences.

As the week progresses, more problems to be solved. A long-time associate is becoming paranoid about his wife’s behaviour, even getting Blanco to sit vigil in the car outside the house where his wife has been tracked. And the repercussions on the mental health of the employee, the consequences for bad decisions and disruptions are also highlighted. But, Blanco seems to take these episodes in his stride, listening, talking, attempting to smooth things over.

In fact, there are quite a few episodes like this throughout the film, an old employee has a son who mixes with a group of anti-Arab youths, bashing the locals, Blanco getting amount of police custody. And there is a new young intern who reminds us that Blanco also has a roving eye, despite his home life and happy marriage, a flirtation, and more, that eventually will blow up in his face.

By the end of the week, the seemingly good boss with his charm is revealed as more determined and ruthless than we might initially have thought, but always able to maintain the charm.

So, a drama about the workplace, social justice, capitalism, consequences, along with the personal dramas that haunt the good boss.

1. The title? Industry, captains of industry, qualities, defects?
2. The setting, the focus on the factory, offices, working plant? Exteriors, the gate and security guard? Rose and his encampment across from the entry? Homes, restaurants, apartments? The musical score?
3. The device of having the action takes place in successive days of the week?
4. Blanco, Javier barred him and his screen presence, performance? His role as the head of the factory, inheriting from his father, affluent background, his management of the company, the many awards, the impending visit of the committee and new award? His dealings with his staff, his assistant and practical management? The firing of José, the appeal, hard-headed, fair and compassionate words? The consequences of this firing?
5. The practical management of the company, the different responsibilities, failures, upsetting of contracts, trucking and deliveries? Morale is and his breakdown, the consequences for the factory? Others stepping in? Khalid, Arab background, prejudice? Morale dares and his antagonism? Khalid, confident, efficient? And the revelation of his relationship with Morales wife? And then with Liliana? His arrogance, confronting Blanco?
6. Blanco, home life, his wife, the long marriage, his eye for the girls, pursuing Liliana, giving her the lift, the apartment, the sexual encounter? The revelation of who she was, Godfather, caring for her as a girl? Her coming to dinner, his wife preparing the dress? Her boyfriend, parents, the past relationships? Her being manipulative? He being direct? The do design of the page advertisement, his wife’s encouragement, her moving in, getting the promotion, the salary?
7. Morales, the long friendship, boys in the past, their father’s – and the later revelation that Blanco had manipulated morale is in that his father simply loaded the rifles for Blanco’s father? Blanco, the relationship with the secretary? His wife, her affairs? Blanco and his driving with Morales, checking his wife’s presence? The meals, conversations, fixing up the situations of the company? Morale is eventually being fired?
8. The work in the factory, scales and balance, preparing for the visit?
9. As a, bringing his children to protest the firing, setting up his camp, the security guard and his friendship, cups of coffee, discussions about the rhymes for his protests? Blanco’s reaction? Was a, desperate, nearing 50, losing his job, losing his children? The bullhorn, the protests and accusations? The toilet, using the balance? Blanco is touching it, the reaction? Blanco phoning the Mayor, phoning the police, José on free land and unable to be moved?
10. The opening, the Arabs, the gang, the boy arrested, Fortuna, his work at Blanco’s house, in the factory, Blanco intervening, the release, the young man working for his wife, the gang gathering outside? The bashing of José, and the young men being killed? The family grief, supporter Fortuna? And no sign after that of José, his disappearing from the scene? Injured and bullied? The burning of his campsite?
11. Fortuna, the earmuffs for the security guard, elderly? Grief at his son’s death?
12. The security guard, the comic touches, going to the ballet with his wife?
13. The role of the boss, good boss, smoothing over every difficulty, the smiling face, charm yet ruthless? The arrival of the committee, the favourable visit, the new award, the final image of Blanco thinking, Fortuna and enabling the wall for the award – the long pause, thinking that the award needed slight adjusting?
14. A commentary on capitalism, efficiency, concern for workers, the conflict between concern and efficiency, the touch of the ruthless, flaws in character, conquerors and victims?