'9to5: The Story of a Revolution': Fascinating chronicle of women's rights activism


By AGENCY
Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin in the film '9 to 5' where they play three working women who live out their fantasies of getting even with and overthrowing of the company's sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot of a boss. Filepic

Midway through Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar's stirring documentary 9to5: The Story of a Movement, Jane Fonda briefly appears as the film's most famous talking head. Remembering the time they were making the hit 1980 comedy 9 to 5 inspired by various stories of workplace sexism collected from the period's fed-up administrative women, Fonda jokingly retells one particular vivid fantasy a female clerical worker had of killing her male supervisor - apparently, an all-too-common daydream among similarly ill-treated secretaries of the time. It goes something like mincing the boss in a coffee bean grinder and making drip coffee out of him.

As hilariously out-there as this imaginary revenge scenario might sound - so over-the-top that it couldn't be included in the Hollywood film with the iconic Dolly Parton song - it isn't hard to empathise with this employee's long-standing grievance deep down, thanks to all the narrative heavy-lifting co-directors Reichert and Bognar do in the lead-up to that scene.

Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

RM 11.12/month

Billed as RM 11.12 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 9.87/month

Billed as RM 118.40 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
women , gender , harassment , equality

Next In Family

Young Malaysian woman in railway career proves circumstances don't define one's future
Pregnancy should not be a reason to stop exercising completely, experts say
In older women, too much coffee may affect bone health
How blinking frequency in children relates to their development
This Malaysian is 93 and still dishing out her famous achar Sarawak
Sewing patchwork from upcycled material keeps 92YO Malaysian great-grandma active
Parents' checklist: How to protect your child from the haze
Helping children breathe easier during the hazy season
Helping women take the next step towards better health
This school in Senegal is guiding girls to be the leaders of tomorrow

Others Also Read