On this week’s podcast, Glenn and Daniel take a journey into the American heartland along with a Chinese glass conglomerate, and only one of our journeys ends well in one of the best documentaries of the decade, as much a case study about how two cohorts from two very different work cultures see each other, as it is metatextual reflection on the future of work in the automated and globalized world of the 21st century. You will be utterly riveted by American Factory, now streaming on Netflix. But first, we take a journey to the Outer Banks of North Carolina (as rendered in Coastal Georgia) for a sweet and heartwarming adventure film featuring a co-lead performer (Zack Gottsagen) with Down Syndrome, on the lam, pursuing his dream of being a professional wrestler (01:13:59).

May contain NSFW language.

FilmWonk rating (The Peanut Butter Falcon): 7 out of 10
FilmWonk rating (American Factory): 10 out of 10

Show notes:

• [02:07] Review: The Peanut Butter Falcon
• [17:47] Spoilers: The Peanut Butter Falcon
• [27:32] Review: American Factory
• [53:27] Spoilers: American Factory
• Music for this episode is the tracks “Walk Me Home” by P!nk and “This Heartache” by The Time Jumpers, from the trailer and soundtrack for The Peanut Butter Falcon.
• “Actual cannibal Shia LaBeouf“.
• Glenn mentioned the restrictions on GPS data in China – check out this video from Half as Interesting for an explanation.
• A pair of interesting op-eds from Madeline Janis about Chinese companies opening US factories, including the one we quoted on the episode:
  • Op-Ed: Sure, watch ‘American Factory.’ But don’t think that all Chinese factories are like the one in the film
  • Foxconn Fiasco Proves Manufacturing Revival Won’t Happen Without Accountability

Listen above, or download: American Factory, The Peanut Butter Falcon (right-click, save as, or click/tap to play on a non-flash browser)