Blue Collar

The events unfold in the late 1970s, a period of economic strain for Detroit's automotive industry. Unions wield influence while wages, debt, and predatory lending press on workers. The era's atmosphere of financial precariousness fuels desperate decisions and exposes systemic corruption.

The story is set in and around Detroit's industrial heart, centered on auto plants and dense blue-collar neighborhoods. Hamtramck, a nearby enclave, features as the home base for the workers. The environment reflects a working-class city where factory life, union activity, and street-level struggles shape daily choices and tensions.

⚖️ Corruption

Corruption threads through both the union hierarchy and organized crime, illustrating how power brokers manipulate workers’ lives. A ledger of illegal loans and mob connections exposes a system where loyalty to the organization outweighs justice. The characters’ crimes and retaliations reveal how corruption corrodes trust and accountability in the workplace.

🤝 Loyalty and Betrayal

Friendship under pressure fractures as fear and self-preservation take precedence over solidarity. Zeke’s pragmatism clashes with Jerry’s moral code, driving a rift that mirrors the larger conflict between workers and corrupt leadership. The film tracks how loyalty can yield to betrayal when the cost of standing up becomes untenable.

💸 Economic Struggle

Desperation over mounting debts, medical bills, and unstable jobs pushes the trio toward a dangerous heist. Each man uses risky means to secure a better future for his family, illustrating how personal finances become a catalyst for crime. The film ties individual hardship to a broader, systemic crisis in a declining post-industrial city.