Laura Carreira’s Feature Debut ‘On Falling’ Reveals the Hardships of Scottish Immigrant Laborers

In the vast expanse of a fulfillment center in Edinburgh, a solitary picker scans items ranging from sex toys to office gadgets. This picker is Aurora (Joana Santos), a Portuguese immigrant whose challenging journey adapting to life in Scotland is poignantly explored in Laura Carreira’s feature debut, On Falling.

Making its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival before competing at San Sebastián, On Falling delves into the mental strains of labor, a theme Carreira has previously examined in her award-winning shorts Red Hill and The Shift.

Reflecting on her personal experience, Carreira shared with Variety, “Moving to Scotland and starting my first job profoundly changed my worldview. It was such a jarring experience that I’m still processing its impact today.”

“Our world would be far more creative and engaging if we didn’t solely live for our jobs,” she added. “This frustration fuels my films. The pressure to constantly work to survive is behind much of our anxiety and difficulty in discovering our true purpose and meaning in life.”

Creating a feature-length film like On Falling was a daunting task, but the challenges spurred inventive solutions, such as combining five different warehouses to form Aurora’s vast fulfillment center. “In post-production, we merged the spaces seamlessly. Thanks to the production designer, the various locations felt unified, even though we were constantly moving between them.”

While ensuring the authenticity of the fulfillment center’s environment was crucial, Carreira found it even more essential to write characters that felt genuine. To do so, she spent months reaching out to friends of friends to connect with local pickers, eventually building a network of workers willing to discuss the nuances and struggles of the job.

“I wanted to get a deep understanding of their shifts, break times, and whether they had colleagues,” Carreira explained. This research became even more impactful after she participated in a public tour of one of Scotland’s largest fulfillment centers, an experience that inspired a pivotal scene featured in the film’s teaser.

On Falling stands as one of the first features produced by Sixteen Films after Ken Loach’s retirement in 2023, resonating with many of the themes the renowned British filmmaker championed—labor issues, immigration, and class inequality. Carreira expressed her gratitude for working with the production company: “It’s vital to collaborate with people who empathize with your vision and want to bring that compassion into their films. I consider myself fortunate.”

Feeling “fortunate” also describes Carreira’s emotions about premiering her debut at Toronto. “I’m incredibly honored. Festivals are like the first audience for the film, and it’s already a positive experience to be accepted. I’m eager to explore the festival world, watch films, and meet other filmmakers—that’s what excites me the most.”