Movies Similar to Sewing Life

Youth (Spring)(2023)

This film was shot between 2014 and 2019 in the town of Zhili, a district of Huzhou City in Zhejiang province, China. Zhili is home to over 18,000 privately-run workshops producing children's clothes, mostly for the domestic market, but some also for export. The workshops employ around 300,000 migrant workers, chiefly from the rural provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou, Anhui, Jiangxi, Henan and Jiangsu.

Small Wonders(2010)

Filmed over a span of ten years by Tally Abecassis, SMALL WONDERS makes us pay attention to the sorts of business we might not notice anymore. It tells the tale of true working class – a watchmaker, a photographer, and a hardware store owner. Their businesses don’t issue flyers. They don’t have light-up signs that have been carefully designed by a marketing firm. And if you think you’ll find a computer anywhere near their operation, forget it. In a way, they are relics of a bygone time…doing what they can to hold their places in communities that are ready to move on without them.

In Syrien auf Montage(1971)

The film is a reportage showing the help of workers from the GDR in the industrial reconstruction of Syria. We witness the friendly relationship between workers from both countries, who are jointly involved in the construction of the cotton spinning mill in Homs. In impressive pictures the exoticism of the environment and the mentality of the Syrian hosts is shown. At the same time it becomes clear that the workers from the GDR become 'ambassadors of the GDR' through their collegial behaviour and good work.

Tailor Made: The Story of Rochester's Garment Industry(2016)

WXXI captures the story of Rochester’s garment industry and the people who contributed to it in this documentary that showcases the rich history of Rochester’s clothing industry. From Michaels-Stern & Co. to the Button Factory, to Hickey Freeman, it tells of the clothiers who revolutionized the garment business and the immigrant workers who made Rochester a key player in the industry.

That Teen: The Movie(2025)

Four teens from around the world step off the path they were told to follow — and take the road less travelled.

Traceable(2014)

Traceable follows Laura Siegel, a fashion designer who takes a critical look at the fashion supply chain and fast fashion industry, travels through India in order to meet and work together with the artisans who create the majority of the clothing that we wear. The film explores our growing disconnect of how and who makes our clothing, thus instilling a need for traceability in the fashion industry.

People of the Night(2018)

In a haunting night, *Orang Malam* tells the story of Kimung, a man haunted by 750 years of solitude and the disappearance of his beloved Cempaka. He meets Dirah, a mysterious woman carrying her own burdens. Together, they share stories of heartbreak and injustice, confronting questions of fate and redemption. This poetic film explores memory, love, and resilience amidst despair. DOI: 10.5281/ZENODO.15477686

The Jazz Fight(1925)

In the gritty streets of Detroit, *The Jazz Fight* follows Benny "The Hammer" Leonard, a once-promising boxer whose career has been derailed by his own demons—alcoholism, anger, and a destructive past. After a brutal loss in the ring and a nearly fatal bar fight, Benny is pushed to the edge of self-destruction. But when he receives an offer for one last fight, his shot at redemption hangs in the balance.

The Surprise Fight(1925)

The Come-Back(1925)

Soft Muscles(1925)

Hitting Hard(1925)

Breaking In(1925)

Mestarit: Koko tarina(2022)

The Memory Boom(2024)

What is inside the brain of a man whose memory is fading? Featuring anonymously donated, never-before-seen, decaying 16mm archive footage, the film blends documentary and scripted elements. Memory becomes film, and as the celluloid deteriorates so does your brain. But the journey is still joyful and pleasurable, like one where you only remember the good things.

My Partners(2025)

Three couples from Estonia and Germany navigate the uncharted territory of free love, finding new partners without ending their current relationships. On their journey they seek the help of mentors, psychologists, shamans, dancers and meditation experts. Over the course of several years, filmmaker Eva Kübar observes their sexual intimacy, desires and insecurities without ever judging their personal choices.

Ellas en la ciudad(2025)

"Ellas en la ciudad" (Them in the City) focuses on the first settlers of the neighborhoods on the outskirts of Seville. Through their stories, we discover that they have been the backbone of a city that has turned its back on them.

Paradise Not Lost(2024)

Autistic teenager Gabriel witnesses the slow collapse of his parents’ relationship.

Rebel with a Bow Tie(2025)

Jaan Tootsen’s documentary follows President Toomas Hendrik Ilves in the last year and a half of his term in office – as he grapples with the complexities of world politics and his private life. Tootsen’s keen camera eye follows Ilves at his most difficult moments, showing no mercy, but creating a gripping, rather harsh and at the same time very human portrait of the President.

Round About Hollywood(1931)

This short travelogue depicts snippets of locations in Hollywood, California, most of them as seen from the streets. Considerable time is taken showing the kinds of architecture of private homes. There are images of various important buildings, and a depiction of the Hollywood Bowl. Finally, there is a sequence revolving around the premiere of the film “Dirigible” (1931) at the famed Chinese Theatre.