Factory Boss

In Factory Boss, a now classic naturalistic drama set in Shenzhen, we follow the struggles of Lin Dalin, the owner of a toy factory barely surviving after a worldwide financial crisis. As tensions rise among his unpaid employees, Lin secures a significant deal with a U.S. company that could save his business—but at a steep cost to his workforce. Amidst these challenges, an ambitious reporter goes undercover at his factory, intending to expose its shortcomings. She discovers appalling working conditions. However, she eventually shifts her focus to the true villains: international corporations exploiting cheap labor while ignoring workers’ rights. Factory Boss paints a complex portrait of Lin as both a victim of global capitalism and an opportunist. The film captures China’s rapid modernization and the harsh reality faced by its workers. Sharp and thought-provoking, Factory Boss offers a rare glimpse into the lives of those caught in the crossfire of progress and profit.