"De fabriek" is an amazing television series about competition between enterprises. In six episodes of about 50 minutes each we witness how a local sugar factory tries to prevent the hostile take-over by a large competitor. Since the factory is still owned by the family of the founder (van Gorkum), the story dives deep into the personal affairs of the share-holders. The suspense originates from a mixture of business life, romance and workers resistance. You will be struck by the political implications, that is to say, if you can see it. At the time of broadcasting, in the early eighties, the series was quite popular with the Dutch audience, and rightly so. Evidently the film contains some glamor, since part of the event take place in the upper social circles. Income is no problem. Value for value. However, since the location (where this is all happening) is an impoverished region of the Netherlands, the wealth is not vulgar, decadent or even excessive. Enough is enough. You should be aware, that the narrative is somewhat out of date. Due to the globalization this type of small family enterprises has become rare. For a long time they have been incorporated in giants like Unilever. At present this gives "The fabriek" an added charm, because it relates to our recent history and appeals to feelings of nostalgia and sentimentality. Those were the days. You ponder on the class distinctions, when the director bullies his errand-boy. Today you simply don't accept such rubbish. The enterprise has become petrified, and many workers are already engaged since the founding years. Their vision is blurred, they don't see it. This holds especially true for the director, Dries Rustenburg. Decades ago he married the daughter of van Gorkum. It represents a typical and recurring pattern, almost boring. Remember Peyton Place, with Leslie Harrington? It is business as usual. Amazing. More than in the series Peyton Place the narrative also elaborates on the private lives of the workers. In addition we get an interesting impression of the lives of the farmers, who are minority share holders. Finally the take-over is prevented, as a result of the workers occupying the factory. Really amazing. This is yet another outdated and forgotten phenomenon. Occupations like this are seldom successful, and since the nineties in the Netherlands you don't see them any more. Now it is just a moment of nostalgia: workmen's power. A touch of Norma Rae. Matewan. Made in Dagenham. American dream. Harlan County war. Isn't this funny? It is all the same. If you like stories about factory-dominated communities, especially those from Groningen, the Netherlands, you will enjoy "De fabriek". Bonus advantage with respect to Peyton Place: after about five hours the job is done (although there is a sequel of another six episodes).
Review of De fabriek
