Descent: A Breaking Point

Laura Carreira's documentary "Aurora" portrays the life of a young woman named Aurora, a precarious worker in Portugal. The film follows Aurora through her daily routines, focusing on the monotonous and exploitative nature of her labor. Aurora works in a call center, battling the dehumanizing effects of constant customer interaction and performance pressure. The film also highlights her attempts to find fulfillment and connection outside of work, showing her interactions with friends and family, and her participation in a dance group. The film emphasizes Aurora’s financial struggles and the challenges she faces in escaping her precarious situation. It portrays her as a member of a generation facing limited opportunities and economic instability in Portugal. The documentary critiques the impact of neoliberal policies on young workers, showcasing the psychological toll of precarious employment and the difficulty of achieving social mobility. Carreira's filmmaking style focuses on the repetitive aspects of Aurora's life, using recurring visual motifs and settings. These repetitions highlight the drudgery and lack of agency that characterize Aurora's existence. The film aims to expose the realities of precarious work and its impact on the lives of young people in Portugal, offering a critical commentary on contemporary labor conditions. find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/04/14/ykzw-a14.html