Damning Doc Paints a Portrait Of Corporate Cowardice

“Downfall: The Case Against Boeing”It is an impressive piece of investigative cinema. But the most compelling aspect of Rory Kennedy’s damning documentary isn’t really about Boeing at all. It’s the intimation that this specific account of corporate malfeasance is just one chapter in a far bigger book.

Kennedy, Mark Bailey, and Keven McAlester were all victims of institutionalized corruption. She and Bailey, her husband, worked together on 2007’s Emmy-winning “Ghosts of Abu Ghraib”All three were nominated for the Oscars 2014 “Last Days in Vietnam.”

It is sometimes difficult to see the whole picture when they are so focused on one micro-scenario. But it’s tough to watch such a flatly incriminatory report without taking a macro view of society’s villains and heroes.

Downfall The Case Against Boeing

Given the film’s otherwise dispiriting conclusions, it comes as something of a relief that there are so many heroes. The first one we meet is former Wall Street Journal reporter Andy Pasztor, who wrote several exposés on the 2018 Lion Air crash in Indonesia, which killed everyone on board. Though Boeing tried to shift blame to the pilot, increasing evidence pointed to a flight-control-system flaw on its new 737 MAX jet.

Boeing stated that they could fly without any restrictions until the issue was resolved. The FAA, as Pasztor wrote, followed the company’s lead. Another MAX crashed a few months later. Again, everyone on board died.

After these shocking facts are explained, the film aims to live up its subtitle. Filmmakers call on a variety of accusers to support their case. These include Captain, a pilot. “Sully” Sullenberger, outraged at Boeing’s seeming disregard for its employees and passengers, and politicians like Representative Peter DeFazio, who led a Congressional investigation into the MAX disasters. There are many heartbreaking stories from family members who lost loved ones to Boeing’s indifference, and also frustrated testimonials from employees who made countless whistles only for them to be ignored or shuffled away.

Downfall The Case Against Boeing

It is true that the film is so well researched and contains so many evidences that it simultaneously fails to address a larger issue. In contrast to the movie’s impressively vast range of heroes, Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg is designated as both its primary villain and the representative of a mostly faceless corporation.

Muilenburg, who eventually quit with a $62million severance deal, definitely seems to have the right fit. Even so, no CEO — or $62 million severance package, for that matter — exists within a vacuum. We know exactly who was affected by decisions made at Boeing. To create, disseminate, maintain and sustain a culture, it takes more than just one or two executives.

How did employees decide to prioritise profits over people? Is there significant dissent at top or was everyone involved? “plain and simple” corruption? How complicit were Wall Street pundits, who allowed Boeing stock buybacks to alter the story and increase its dividend? Managers ignored quality control reports for fear of losing their jobs or were they willing to accept top-down standards?

Downfall The Case Against Boeing

These complex questions may never be answered fully, but we do know that time stopped for the MAX jet crash victims, while Boeing continued to roll, as mechanical and impenetrable as its equipment.

“Downfall”With single-minded deliberation, lasers focus on the aftermath of crashes. After learning this much about the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation SystemAnd Transport Airplane Risk Assessment MethodologyFlyers who are nervous may be more determined to drive to their destination.

The larger picture is always visible. It can be seen on both sides a clearly drawn line between multinational companies’ bloodless detachment and the human suffering of the people it affected. We are left wondering if there are more stories like this, waiting to be told.

“Downfall: The Case Against Boeing”It will be shown for the first time at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival.

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