A Matter of Survival

Set in the 1960s, A Matter of Survival tracks the moment when office computers begin to change the way people work. The film steps into the shoes of two groups in a corporate world on the cusp of automation: workers fearing layoffs and supervisors weighing efficiency against loyalty. Rather than leaning on a single narrator, it blends dramatized scenes and documentary interviews to present how automation reshapes routines, workflows, and daily rhythms. Through conversations, office sightings, and boardroom talk, the film sketches the tug of war between preserving job security and pushing for greater productivity. The result is a thoughtful, unsettling portrait of a workplace at a turning point, with questions about skills, training, and power for workers and managers.

The film was released in 1969 and directed by Bernard Devlin. It presents as a drama documentary that probes the impact of computers entering offices, showing both day to day routines and tense negotiations between workers and managers across industries.

Box office data for this 1969 drama documentary is not publicly documented, reflecting its archival status and limited commercial reach. Its significance lies largely in historical context and its portrayal of a turning point in work life within archives today.

Cultural impact: As an early look at automation in the workplace, the film sits within the late 60s discourse about technology and labor. Its influence remains largely in archives and academic references rather than mainstream cinema, yet it helps frame ongoing conversations about work, skills, and automation's reach in policy.

Reception & themes: Critics generally praise its balanced focus on workers fears and management calculations, avoiding blame. The central themes include job security, retraining, and the human costs of efficiency, with the documentary form emphasizing lived experience over abstract debate and data.