Is it possible to make profit and be ethical? Can you make money and be good? Ethical questions are coming more critical for Western companies when they are moving their production to the countries of cheap labour. Companies are getting sensitive about their reputation as their share holders are getting more aware of problems with globalisation.

”A Decent Factory” follows the Ethical Researcher of Nokia company on her trip to China to examine suppliers of Nokia. Clashes between cultures, between ethics and profits, become obvious in this new documentary film by Thomas Balmès.

Nokia – the biggest mobile manufacturer of the world – was born in Finland, one of the least corrupted country in the world. Because of its incredible success, the company has expanded its activities to countries where the use of child labour, violations against human rights and corruption are common phenomena. The film follows what happens when a puritan Nordic person with no historical experience of colonialism is facing the realities of globalisation through her own work.

Hanna Kaskinen is Nokia’s « ethical and environmental specialist ». The film shows in direct cinema -style how she travels to China to investigate the conditions in a factory of a local Nokia supplier. Does the mindful capitalism start with clean teacups for Chinese workers? How much would it cost us if European employers would pay the Chinese even according to the local laws? Do we really care, as a British manager in a factory in China asks?

« The one and only social responsibility of business is to make profits. » Milton Friedman, Nobel Prize Winner in Economics

A film directed by Thomas Balmès  (Director, Author, Director of Photography, Producer)

Year of production: 2004

Length: 79’

Production: Margot Films, Making Movies, Artline

Broadcasters: France 2, BBC, YLE2, SVT, TV2 Danmark, SBS, Lichtpunt Belgium, HOS, RTBF, RTSR, Discovery Times Channel(US), EBS Korea, ABC Asia Pacific, Maori TV New Zealand, ETV Estonia, Sogecable Spain, Against gravity Poland, NRK Norway, Noga Israel, TV3 Catalonia

With the support of: CNC, AVEK (Finland) and MEDIA