Welfare

"Welfare" is an inside look at the New York City welfare system, circa 1974, when NYC was a huge mess. And by "inside look" I don't mean boring behind-the-scenes nonsense - the entire film (almost three hours) is made up of conversation between welfare 'clients' and the welfare workers helping them out.

Shot in black and white, this is a gritty in-the-trenches look at the people asking for help, and the system that is supposed to help them. However, I am wondering what the purpose of making this film was exactly.

If it was to show how the "system" is so bad and uncaring, and such a hassle for those asking for help, it fails. To me it does, anyway, because that's not what I saw. What I saw was a long line of people trying to swindle the system in some way, trying to get away with whatever they can, who all have a huge sense of entitlement in wanting their welfare checks immediately no matter what the rules are.

Not all the clients were like that of course - but most seen in the film fit that description.

There are so many, where to begin. A few come to mind - there's the woman who ran out of her food check money, but let it slip out that she bought "two sweaters." (Why not just one sweater?) On pregnant woman returned back angry after she walked out in the middle of her interview previously because she didn't like the questions. An obviously drugged-out couple were saying anything to get free money, and it's funny how the girl let it slip that her boyfriend was married, and they try to cover it up.

Another woman is complaining on the telephone to a friend about the system and that she has "no friends" to help her - then who is she talking to so personally and casually to on the phone? One woman and her mother are especially annoying, as the daughter constantly is yelling and demanding things despite what the rules are - so much that a security guard and a manager had to be called by their caseworker who refused to continue because she was being yelled at so much. The same caseworker even had to finally resort to scolding a young guy who refused to leave after his interview was over and who was constantly complaining about getting the "runaround." She sternly told him that welfare needs "proof" and that they "just don't hand out money." The guy then complains about that he has no money, and then he (and his girl) unbelievably complains that he's always being told to "get a job!" And others too, always complaining, and blaming others for their plight. Welfare, the city, the state, the country, God, it's always everyone else's fault and not their own.

As a matter of fact, almost all the people asking for assistance are very unsympathetic, caught in lies, spinning tall tales, trying anything to weasel their way to a hassle-free generous handout.

The camera eventually shows us a man who is sweeping up in the place - he is a little old, and slow, and it almost looks as if he is going to fall down as he swipes his broom across the floor. But seeing this gentleman shows an amazing contrast - here is this guy, actually working at his job, at the place where many younger and healthier people are coming for handouts.

There is one lengthy and incredible sequence, featuring a 51-year old white man talking to a 22-year old black security guard at the welfare office. The white man tells how he was mugged and beaten badly by three blacks at one point, and has no problem telling the security guard about his dislike of the black race, and the reasons why, as the black guard listens and gives his take. The exchange between these two people is fascinating to say the least.

Again, I don't know what the intention of this film was, but if it was to show how sorry we're supposed to feel for the people asking for help, it fails. If anything, I instead felt for all the welfare workers, who you can see are desperately trying to keep their patience in check and be as diplomatic as possible despite being treated so poorly by the clients, who refuse to understand that when you get something for free, sometimes it takes a little effort and you must do things right.

No matter how one sees it, this is indeed a remarkable film.

Now THIS is the best documentary ever made. in these times where ranking has become an obsession, I implore all of you out there to demand to see this film. Like Beckett this movie is funny,dark,clever and insightful. The "Happy Couple" goes down in documentary history as one of the greatest catches!

"Welfare" is the fourth Frederick Wiseman documentary I've seen and they have all been outstanding. The others I've watched, "Primate", "Law and Order", and "Titticut Follies" I would rank slightly above "Welfare" for the simple reason that they are harder hitting films. "Welfare" is very long and totally mesmerizing but it's all about the process of waiting and people drifting endlessly through the system. It's all conversations between welfare caseworkers and people who are trying to get their checks.

As usual, Wiseman finds some of most astonishing footage imaginable. Some of the stuff its hard to fathom how he managed to film it. You wonder if the people knew they were being filmed, and if so, did they care? They don't seem to. It was shot in 1974, and presumably on film, so the cameras would have been noticeable. The thing I love about Wiseman is that he doesn't stand in judgement. He just shows. And when you expect his camera to pull away it doesn't. And then something even more astonishing happens.

Admittedly, in "Welfare" the astonishment is on a more subtle level than in some of his other films. There are no moments that make your jaw drop in horror at the human condition like in Wiseman's "Law and Order" when two cops chokehold a cowering prostitute into oblivion or the nightmarish talent show in "Titticut Follies".

The moments that stand out in "Welfare" are the smaller ones. The way one couple's story about how badly they need their welfare check slowly dissolves as they get caught in one lie after another. The hippie girl who complains about her apartment being declared an unfit home for her infant just because her boyfriend's "diseased" dog also lives there. The way one caseworker (who seems like a wimp at first) is able to firmly (and justly) stick up for one of his cases.

But the real treat of seeing a Frederick Wiseman documentary cannot fully be described in words. I think he is the greatest documentary filmmaker in history. His films are truly like social x-rays. Every one of his films I've seen is far and away better than any other documentary I've seen by any other filmmaker.

Truly priceless and wonderful and sad. Before people played to the camera. truly dismal situation for people and for employees. The intention is pure humanity and a portrait of a time. Incredible racial exchange at 60:16 with a patient security guard. No computers; bouncing back and forth between agencies. The scenes will seem very long. I'd suggest seeing it in two sittings.