Influx

Artists Karen Guthrie and Nina Pope have made an engaging documentary about the ideals of C20th century capitalism coming face-to-face with the realities of C21st globalization. The film focuses on the vision of Thomas Bata who founded the shoe brand Bata with the belief it could become “shoemaker” to the world. Bata believed he could achieve his dream by creating ideal work-live communities for his workers.

Their film, Bata-ville follows the trip made by 42 British ex Bata employees to the Bata corporate village in the Czech republic.

The artists started by creating a travel agency on the site of the former shoe-factory. It allowed the artists to meet the ex-workers and gather stories and offer them the chance to take the road trip back to Bata HQ. For the road-trip, the artists play the role of tour guides.

The film shows the impact of the journey on the ex-workers and how they come face to face with their futures and earn a newfound respect for the ideals of their ex-employer.