A Day's Work
A documentary by Simon Groihofer, Elias Martin and Marilen Martin.
For some, work is survival; for others, it’s identity. "A Day's Work" unfolds across Europe through the stories of ten people, each confronted with an increasingly complex work environment. We meet an Armenian artist questioning the role of her craft while her country is at war, a French nurse grappling with the tensions between care and efficiency pressures, and an American businessman in Kyiv redefining his notion of ambition. The documentary refrains from offering simple answers, instead, it compels us to pause and consider what it means to work.
Watch the trailer
About the documentary
Our original idea was to make a documentary about work. Work determines everything. It structures our days, is the financial basis and, for some, fulfillment and the deeper meaning of life. Work connects us, because everyone works. 50-hour office jobs, unpaid care for relatives, working while studying, vocational training or asking for money on the street are all forms of work - depending on how we define it.
We met different people across the continent and across professions to get a glimpse into their lives. In the end, the project didn’t become the documentary we initially envisioned. Instead of presenting answers about the meaning of work, we explore the many different relationships people have with work through our protagonists.
We completed our project in November 2024. What began as a single idea took many turns and eventually became this collage of life snapshots. We searched for people willing to share their perspectives, and we met them in all sorts of ways - from a café in Kyiv to a conversation on Mariahilfer Street in Vienna. Their stories shaped the documentary into what it is today.
Elias Martin
Elias Martin discovered photography at an early age. He gained his first hands-on film experience working on set. Originally from Potsdam, he spent extended periods in London and Marseille. He is currently based in Vienna.
Simon Groihofer
Simon Groihofer is a filmmaker, photographer and architect by training. He gained his first camera experience as a child actor. His studies took him to South Korea and China. Today he works in the fields of film and photography and is involved with Teach For Austria for more equal opportunities in education.
Marilen Martin
Marilen Martin is a journalist in Frankfurt am Main. Her studies and work have taken her to China, Ukraine, Italy, the U.S. and Russia. While writing is her medium of choice, she enjoys exploring other forms of expression, especially film.
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