A documentary about an Ohio auto glass
factory that is run by a Chinese investor debuted
Wednesday on Netflix as the streaming service’s
first project backed by Michelle and Barack
Obama’s new production company.
Filmmakers Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert
said they learned of the Obamas’ interest after
“American Factory” was shown at the Sundance
film festival and they were pitching the film
to Netflix. They were told the Obamas had
screened it days earlier.
They’re ecstatic about the support, and in an
interview Wednesday were quick to dissuade
anyone from the idea that the film is delivering a
message either for or against any politician.
“They got what we were trying to do, which is
to tell a story that sort of transcends the year-to-
year politics,” Bognar said.
Bognar and Julia Reichert, who live in the Dayton,
Ohio, area where Fuyao Glass replaced an
abandoned General Motors plant, said they were
initially interested in exploring a culture clash, but
the film deepened into a story about the rights of
workers, globalization and automation.Image: Charles Rex Arbogast