Welfare
discrimination, suicide references, infrequent strong language
Director(s)Frederick Wiseman
Production year1975
Genre(s)Documentary
Approx. running minutes167m
Cast-
Welfare
discrimination, suicide references, infrequent strong language
WELFARE is a 1975 documentary which follows the interactions at a New York welfare department between the staff and clai ...
WELFARE is a 1975 documentary which follows the interactions at a New York welfare department between the staff and claimants in financial difficulties as both navigate the complexities of an overburdened US welfare system.
language
Infrequent strong language ('f**k') features, as well as milder terms such as 'bitch', 'shit', 'crap', 'ass', 'balls', 'goddamn', 'hell' and 'God'. A person with mental health issues is described as 'retarded'; this is not used as an insult, but reflects the language of the time in regard to mental health matters.
discrimination
A white man makes racist comments, which include uses of the term 'n****r', about people of colour to a Black security guard who challenges his attitudes. A woman makes a passing homophobic remark about 'dykes'. Discrimination is not endorsed by the work as a whole.
suicide and self-harm
A man speculates that if he cannot obtain adequate welfare he is better off taking his own life.
additional issues
Upsetting scenes are centred on people, some with mental health issues, struggling with difficult financial situations. Welfare claimants talk about their histories of drug addiction and rehabilitation. There are undetailed references to people encountering violence and having criminal records for murder. A woman reveals a surgical scar on her body. Frequent smoking reflects the times in which the documentary was filmed.
discrimination, suicide references, infrequent strong language
Classified Date:
07/11/2025
Version:
2D
Use:
Physical media + VOD/Streaming
Distributor:
BFI Video
language
Infrequent strong language ('f**k') features, as well as milder terms such as 'bitch', 'shit', 'crap', 'ass', 'balls', 'goddamn', 'hell' and 'God'. A person with mental health issues is described as 'retarded'; this is not used as an insult, but reflects the language of the time in regard to mental health matters.
discrimination
A white man makes racist comments, which include uses of the term 'n****r', about people of colour to a Black security guard who challenges his attitudes. A woman makes a passing homophobic remark about 'dykes'. Discrimination is not endorsed by the work as a whole.
suicide and self-harm
A man speculates that if he cannot obtain adequate welfare he is better off taking his own life.
additional issues
Upsetting scenes are centred on people, some with mental health issues, struggling with difficult financial situations. Welfare claimants talk about their histories of drug addiction and rehabilitation. There are undetailed references to people encountering violence and having criminal records for murder. A woman reveals a surgical scar on her body. Frequent smoking reflects the times in which the documentary was filmed.
language
Infrequent strong language ('f**k') features, as well as milder terms such as 'bitch', 'shit', 'crap', 'ass', 'balls', 'goddamn', 'hell' and 'God'. A person with mental health issues is described as 'retarded'; this is not used as an insult, but reflects the language of the time in regard to mental health matters.
discrimination
A white man makes racist comments, which include uses of the term 'n****r', about people of colour to a Black security guard who challenges his attitudes. A woman makes a passing homophobic remark about 'dykes'. Discrimination is not endorsed by the work as a whole.
suicide and self-harm
A man speculates that if he cannot obtain adequate welfare he is better off taking his own life.
additional issues
Upsetting scenes are centred on people, some with mental health issues, struggling with difficult financial situations. Welfare claimants talk about their histories of drug addiction and rehabilitation. There are undetailed references to people encountering violence and having criminal records for murder. A woman reveals a surgical scar on her body. Frequent smoking reflects the times in which the documentary was filmed.
Director(s)Frederick Wiseman
Production year1975
Genre(s)Documentary
Approx. running minutes167m
Cast-
discrimination, suicide references, infrequent strong language
Classified Date:
07/11/2025
Version:
2D
Use:
Physical media + VOD/Streaming
Distributor:
BFI Video
language
Infrequent strong language ('f**k') features, as well as milder terms such as 'bitch', 'shit', 'crap', 'ass', 'balls', 'goddamn', 'hell' and 'God'. A person with mental health issues is described as 'retarded'; this is not used as an insult, but reflects the language of the time in regard to mental health matters.
discrimination
A white man makes racist comments, which include uses of the term 'n****r', about people of colour to a Black security guard who challenges his attitudes. A woman makes a passing homophobic remark about 'dykes'. Discrimination is not endorsed by the work as a whole.
suicide and self-harm
A man speculates that if he cannot obtain adequate welfare he is better off taking his own life.
additional issues
Upsetting scenes are centred on people, some with mental health issues, struggling with difficult financial situations. Welfare claimants talk about their histories of drug addiction and rehabilitation. There are undetailed references to people encountering violence and having criminal records for murder. A woman reveals a surgical scar on her body. Frequent smoking reflects the times in which the documentary was filmed.
