The Red Tail

The Red Tail

Directed by Melissa Koch
After losing his job to outsourcing, airline mechanic Roy Koch goes to China to meet his replacement

Videos

Official Trailer

Overview

Genre
Contemporary Issues, Social Issues, Human Rights, Investigation, and Personal Doc
Synopsis

On August 19, 2005 Roy Koch, along with 4,400 airline mechanics, custodians, and cleaners, went on strike against Northwest Airlines, the fourth largest airline in the world. Northwest, otherwise known as “The Red Tail” by its employees, wanted to lay off 53% of their union and outsource their jobs. What followed was a 444-day strike that would end with 4,000 union members out of work, including Roy.

Instead of being left in the wake of this battle, Roy and his daughter Melissa (co-director of The Red Tail with Dawn Mikkelson) set on a journey to meet the worker to whom Roy’s job was outsourced in China. The journey provides a renewed sense of purpose for Roy, and while Melissa wants to get answers to his plight, her determination as a filmmaker is always tempered by her love as a daughter. The film interweaves Roy and Melissa’s search for connection in China with the premeditated downfall of Northwest Airlines.

Stage
finished
Running time
86 and 56 minutes

Credits

  • Dawn Mikkelson ... Executive Producer/Director
  • Melissa Koch ... Director/Producer
  • Adrian Danciu ... Director of Photography
  • Lori Barbero ... Music Supervisor
  • Beth Wilson ... Associate Producer
  • Chris Waller ... Associate Producer
  • Carly Zuckweiler ... Sound Designer

Production Details

Prod. Co.
Emergence Pictures
Country
United States
Years of Production
2005-2009
Locations
USA, Hong Kong, Mainland China

Distribution Details

Release year
2009
Festivals
Galway Film Fleadh, Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival, Reel Work May Day Labor Film Festival, Flyway Film Festival
Distribution
Emergence Pictures & Autofocus Videowerkstatt
Language
English
Subtitles
German

Photos

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