{{Short description|2022 documentary film}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Infobox film | name = The Flagmakers | image = The Flagmakers (2022 documentary).png | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = {{plainlist| * Cynthia Wade * Sharon Liese }} | producer = {{plainlist| * Cynthia Wade * Sharon Liese * Giannis Antetokounmpo * Carolyn Bernstein * Ryan Harrington * Mark Gordon * Ben Forkner * Pamela Ryckman * Sylvia Golden * Jenna Segal * Jayne Sherman * Deborah C. Van Eck }} | writer = | narrator = | music = | cinematography = Boaz Freund | editing = {{plainlist| * Dava Whisenant * Hillary Bachelder }} | studio = | distributor = National Geographic Documentary Films | released = {{Film date|2022|12|21}} | runtime = 35 minutes | country = United States | language = English }}
'''''The Flagmakers''''' is a 2022 documentary film about the workers of employee-owned American flag manufacturer Eder Flag who manufacture American flags and flagpoles. The film focuses on the factory's diverse workforce, including locals, immigrants, and refugees.<ref name="msn">{{cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/oscars/sharon-liese-the-flagmakers-director-we-will-never-look-at-the-american-flag-the-same-way-again-exclusive-video-interview/ar-AA16g9b4 |title=Sharon Liese ('The Flagmakers' director): We will 'never look at the American flag the same way again' |website=MSN |last=Davidson |first=Denton |date=January 12, 2023 |access-date=February 26, 2023}}</ref>
== Synopsis == ''The Flagmakers'' examines the workforce of the Eder Flag factory located in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, the largest manufacturer of American flags in the nation.<ref name="documentary">{{cite web |url=https://www.documentary.org/project/flag-makers |title=The Flag Makers |website=International Documentary Association |access-date=February 27, 2023}}</ref> Eder Flag's employees are largely refugees and immigrants from all around the world, including Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa, and Latin America. The film follows several different employees, examining the meaning behind the American flag through their individual stories.<ref name="axios">{{cite web |url=https://www.axios.com/2023/01/06/immigrants-american-flags-factory-refugees-flagmakers |title=Immigrants take back American flag in new film |website=Axios |last=Contreras |first=Russell |date=January 6, 2023 |access-date=February 27, 2023}}</ref>
The main narrator, Radica, immigrated from Serbia when it was on the brink of war over 30 years ago. She learned English from watching episodes of ''Married With Children''.<ref name="mag">{{cite web |url=https://www.milwaukeemag.com/this-national-geographic-documentary-is-set-in-oak-creek/ |title=This National Geographic Documentary Is Set in Oak Creek |website=Milwaukee Magazine |last=Rovito |first=Rich |date=November 17, 2022 |access-date=February 28, 2023}}</ref> The film contrasts the optimism of Ali, a war survivor from Baghdad, Iraq, with the after-effects of being attacked at a local store due to being an immigrant.<ref name="laugh">{{cite web |url=https://www.laughingplace.com/w/articles/2022/12/21/the-flagmakers/ |title=National Geographic's "The Flagmakers" Provokes Unexpected Thoughts and Questions About The American Flag |website=LaughingPlace.com |last=Betti |first=Tony |date=December 21, 2022 |access-date=February 27, 2023}}</ref> The film explores the hardships felt by Eder Flag's employees, including production manager SugarRay, who reflects on recent tragedies including the murder of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake. He is quoted as saying: "Definitely love this country, you know what I mean? But it don’t always love you back."<ref name="mag" /> The film also explores the relationships between Barb, a midwesterner who is retiring from Eder due to health issues, and her "diverse immigrant co-workers".<ref name="laugh" />
Co-director Cynthia Wade said that the Eder Flag factory was a "'visual tapestry' woven with the diversity of its employees and richness of the sewing process for flags". Filming began in 2019, before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, causing the filmmakers to expand the narrative to include the impacts of the COVID-19 on the factory workers.<ref name="indiewire">{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2022/12/the-flagmakers-short-film-interview-1234783976/ |title='The Flagmakers' Directors Cynthia Wade and Sharon Liese: Feature Documentaries Are 'Just Too Long' |website=IndieWire |last=Bergeson |first=Samantha |date=December 8, 2022 |access-date=February 28, 2023}}</ref> Wade also said Eder Flag has seen an increase in flag orders since the film debuted.<ref name="axios" />
== Production == Directed and produced by veteran documentary makers Cynthia Wade and Sharon Liese, ''The Flagmakers'' was also produced by NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.<ref name="deadline">{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/video/the-flagmakers-trailer-premiere-national-geographic-documentary-directors-cynthia-wade-sharon-liese-ep-giannis-antetokounmpo-news/ |title=National Geographic Launches 'The Flagmakers', Stirring Doc On Diverse Workers At American Flag Factory, With NBA Star Giannis Antetokounmpo As EP |website=Deadline |last=Carey |first=Matthew |date=September 16, 2022 |access-date=February 26, 2023}}</ref>
== Release == ''The Flagmakers'' had its world premiere at the 2022 Camden International Film Festival on September 16, 2022.<ref name="wire">{{cite web |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220916005569/en/National-Geographic-Documentary-Films-Debuts-Trailer-for-THE-FLAGMAKERS-From-Co-Directors-Academy-Award-Winner-Cynthia-Wade-and-AFI-Docs-Award-Winner-Sharon-Liese |title=National Geographic Documentary Films Debuts Trailer for THE FLAGMAKERS From Co-Directors Academy Award-Winner Cynthia Wade and AFI Docs Award Winner Sharon Liese |website=Business Wire |date=September 16, 2022 |access-date=February 25, 2023}}</ref>
The film was released on the National Geographic network on December 8, 2022 and on Disney+ on December 21, 2022.<ref name="mag" />
== Reception == Common Sense Media said: "In light of the flag's increasing use as a symbol of division, the film offers a heartening reminder of how people from different backgrounds can work together and find common ground."<ref name="common">{{cite web |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-flagmakers |title=The Flagmakers |last=Morgan |first=Stephanie |website=Common Sense Media |access-date=February 28, 2023}}</ref> Tony Betti of ''LaughingPlace.com'' said the film offers an "oddly poetic look at one of the most successful manufacturers of American flags" in the United States.<ref name="laugh" />
=== Accolades === {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col"| Award ! scope="col"| Date of ceremony ! scope="col"| Category ! scope="col"| Recipient(s) ! scope="col"| Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |- ! scope="row"|Critics' Choice Documentary Awards | November 13, 2022 | Best Short Documentary | National Geographic Documentary Films | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center" |<ref name="awards">{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2022/11/critics-choice-documentary-awards-2022-winners-list-1234781995/ |title='Good Night Oppy,' 'Get Back' Dominate Critics Choice Documentary Awards (Complete Winners List) |website=IndieWire |last=Zilko |first=Christian |date=November 13, 2022 |access-date=February 25, 2023}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"|Denver International Film Festival | November 16, 2022 | Short Film | Sharon Liese and Cynthia Wade | {{won}} | style="text-align:center" |<ref name="denver">{{cite web |url=https://www.denverfilm.org/media/press-release/dff45-award-winners/ |title=DENVER FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES AWARD RECIPIENTS FOR 45TH ANNUAL PROGRAM |website=Denver Film Festival |access-date=February 26, 2023}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"|News and Documentary Emmy Awards | September 28, 2023 | Outstanding Short Documentary | National Geographic | {{won}} | style="text-align:center" |<ref name="emmy">{{cite web |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/movies/2023/10/03/flagmakers-giannis-produced-movie-about-eder-flag-wins-an-emmy/71037617007/ |title='Flagmakers,' Giannis-produced movie about Oak Creek's Eder Flag, wins Documentary Emmy |website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |last=Foran |first=Chris |date=October 3, 2023 |access-date=January 19, 2024}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"|Savannah Film Festival | October 22, 2022 | Documentary Short | rowspan="2" |Sharon Liese and Cynthia Wade | {{won}} | style="text-align:center" |<ref name="variety">{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/scad-savannah-film-festival-announces-2022-award-winners-film-news-in-brief-1235412521/ |title=SCAD Savannah Film Festival Announces 2022 Award Winners – Film News in Brief |website=Variety |last1=Tangcay |first1=Jazz |last2=Zee |first2=Michaela |date=October 27, 2022 |access-date=February 26, 2023}}</ref> |}
== Stage adaptation == Shortly after release, ''The Flagmakers'' was optioned to be adapted into a stage musical, with Saheem Ali attached as director.<ref name="broadway">{{cite web |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/THE-FLAGMAKERS-Documentary-Stage-Musical-Adaptation-In-the-Works-20221214 |title=THE FLAGMAKERS Documentary Stage Musical Adaptation In the Works |website=BroadwayWorld |last=Major |first=Michael |date=December 14, 2022 |access-date=February 28, 2023}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website}} * {{IMDb title|tt21881264|The Flagmakers}}
{{National Geographic documentary films}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Flagmakers, The}} Category:2022 American films Category:2022 English-language films Category:2022 documentary films Category:2022 films Category:2022 short documentary films Category:American short documentary films Category:Disney documentary films Category:Disney+ original films Category:Documentary films about immigration to the United States Category:Documentary films about refugees Category:News & Documentary Emmy Award–winning programs Category:English-language short documentary films