A gripping documentary that follows a group of unemployed Argentine workers as they reclaim a closed factory and transform it into a successful worker-run cooperative. Directed by Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis, the film is set in the aftermath of Argentina’s 2001 economic collapse, when thousands of businesses shut down and millions were plunged into poverty. Amid this chaos, ordinary people took extraordinary action.

Focusing on the occupied Forja auto parts factory outside Buenos Aires, The Take documents the rise of the “recovered factory” movement, where workers refused to be discarded and instead demanded the right to work—without bosses. With determination, legal savvy, and solidarity, they face off against corporate owners, politicians, and the courts to assert a new kind of economic justice: one rooted in direct democracy, dignity, and self-management.

Class tensions come into sharp focus as when the cooperative begins to thrive, the former owner turns to the courts and government in an attempt to regain control—despite having walked away. The film raises important questions about ownership, and the way government can side with workers or property owners.

This documentary is ideal for adult audiences and older teens, especially those interested in labor rights, economic justice, and grassroots organizing. It offers a powerful case study in horizontal organizing and shows how people can build alternative systems when the dominant ones fail them. The Take also sparks broader questions about ownership, power, and what it means to take control of our work and lives.

By lifting up a story of hope in the wreckage of neoliberalism, The Take is a vital resource for movements everywhere—proof that when the system crashes, people can rise and build something better.