The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant

About The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant

The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant is a 2009 HBO documentary film that examines the final days of a General Motors assembly plant in Moraine, Ohio. The film depicts the raw emotions of the workers, their frustrations, their pride in the work they do, and their uncertainty about the future. It is essentially a story about the end of an era for a factory and its employees who are confronted with the harsh realities of the automotive industry's decline.

Making / Production

The film is produced by HBO and directed by the Emmy-winning team of Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert. The directors spent several months at the plant, filming the workers as they shared their personal stories and prepared to shut down the assembly line for the final time.

Actors

• The film doesn't feature classic "actors" as it is a documentary. However, the "cast" consists of the actual workers of the plant who tell their own stories.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The GM assembly plant in Moraine, Ohio that is featured in this film was one of the top producers of mid-sized trucks and SUVs in North America.
• It was the last GM plant to close in Ohio, a state that was once home to a dozen.
• The film took four months to shoot, capturing the final days leading up to the plant's closure.

Awards

This stirring documentary was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject at the 82nd Academy Awards.

Quotes

• “You feel like you’re part of something big and you’re making a difference. But now you’re not. Now it’s done, it’s done.” - One of the workers
• "Each one of those trucks was like a piece of art. We built the best and let it be" - Another employee echoing the sentiment of pride

Music, Soundtrack

• Being a documentary, the film doesn't feature a traditional soundtrack. However, the background score is incidental and serves to heighten the emotional impact of the scenes.