Directed by Hollywood star Lena Dunham, ‘Industry’ starkly portrays pervasive issues around race, class and gender at the fictional investment bank’s scheme in the British capital as ambitious twenty-somethings compete for permanent jobs.
Several episodes in the much-anticipated series were shown virtually from Sunday to Wednesday at the 12-day film festival, which is taking place largely online because of coronavirus restrictions. In one scene in the women’s toilets, a seemingly privileged white graduate unflinchingly tells another that a black participant’s “narrative” is impossible to compete with.
Meanwhile another ethnic minority graduate who has confessed to being made to feel inadequate by fellow participants because of his humble background, commits suicide after printing a page in the wrong font in a lengthy report.“Industry” is the brainchild of Wales-based production company Bad Wolf and its co-founding executive producer Jane Tranter, who was behind previous HBO hits “The Night Of” and “Succession” as well as several popular BBC series.
Bad Wolf commissioned two rookie screenwriters, Konrad Kay and Mickey Down – who had both worked for international banks in London – to pen the eight-part drama. Tranter recalled her arriving at their Welsh filming studios with an aura of celebrity about her and being a “bubble of joy the whole time”.