THE RED TAIL (2009)
Directed by Dawn Mikkelson & Melissa Koch
Feature Documentary
“[The Red Tail ] will make you not only smarter, but also more sensitive and compassionate.” – Huffington Post, Feb 25, 2010.
"Sneakily insightful study of the insidiously far-reaching effects of globalization on unionized labor around the world” -Video Librarian, Sept-Oct 2010
On August 19, 2005 Roy Koch, along with 4,400 airline mechanics, custodians, and cleaners, went on strike against Northwest Airlines, the fourth largest airline in the world. Northwest, otherwise known as “The Red Tail” by its employees, wanted to lay off 53% of their union and outsource their jobs. What followed was a 444-day strike that would end with 4,000 union members out of work, including Roy.
Instead of being left in the wake of this battle, Roy and his daughter Melissa (director of The Red Tail) set on a journey to meet the worker to whom Roy’s job was outsourced in China. The journey provides a renewed sense of purpose for Roy, and while Melissa wants to get answers to his plight, her determination as a filmmaker is always tempered by her love as a daughter. The film interweaves Roy and Melissa’s search for connection in China with the premeditated downfall of Northwest Airlines. This downfall serves a vibrant example of the dangers of our current economic system, and casts a spotlight on the future of the working class.
The Red Tail has screened around the world at festivals including 2010 IDFA (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam), DocuFest Atlanta, US Social Forum, LaborFest, 2009 Sheffield Doc/Fest, Galway Film Fleadh, and the Flyway Film Festival.
The Red Tail has broadcast in Israel and is currently available to PBS affiliates through NETA.org. The film is available on multiple streaming platforms.
Purchase DVD for Individual Home Use Here: Emergence Pictures Store
Educational/community/institutional sales, please visit Collective Eye.
Stream on Vimeo on Demand or Amazon Prime.
IN THE NEWS
Video Librarian Review, Sept-Oct 2010 (The Video Review Magazine for Libraries)
Interview with Director Melissa Koch, World Socialist Web Site, July 6, 2010
Interview with Director Dawn Mikkelson, World Socialist Web Site, July 6, 2010
“Globalization & its human consequences: The Red Tail”, World Socialist Web Site, July 6, 2010
It’sJustMovies.com Review, March 29, 2010
Red Tail: The Tale of an Ugly Truth, Huffington Post, Feb 25, 2010
Filmmaker Magazine Film Blog, Jan 9, 2010