MovieChat Forums > The Intern (2015) Discussion > I'm old, please exploit me...

I'm old, please exploit me...


Perhaps it could be seen as cute (at best) that the successful start-up uses senior citizens as unpaid workers.) Frankly, I think all interns should be paid at least something nominal: the idea of interns working for nothing because they're promised valuable experience, etc, is really just a thin guise for slavery.)

Ben, however, is no ordinary intern. He quickly establishes himself as a superstar of business and teamwork, providing advice and labor that far outstrip even the most highly paid within the company. I kept waiting for someone to acknowledge this glaring form of exploitation (which Ben was ludicrously willing to permit, to the point of staying late with the boss, cleaning up dodgy messes even under the threat of criminal punishment.) When the end rolled around, it was clear no one in the story's universe found his exploitation troubling -- and you know what? I found that troubling!

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The whole point was that he wanted this. How exactly is it exploitation if he was asking for it? They gave him the opportunity to feel useful again, which to him was invaluable.


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As I said in OP, he is no ordinary intern. He is extraordinary on numerous levels, and is far more insightful and talented than the top execs in the company. Just because he seeks the basic situation doesn't mean the execs behave in good faith when it's clear he's way overqualified. His saintly behavior is masochistic (and a little implausible -- like the "magical negro" in certain films, but here, the magical senior citizen who is selfless and will dispense wisdom when those inclined to ignore them finally overcome their ageism and decide to pay heed). Just because someone is willing to serve at ludicrously self-sacrificial costs doesn't mean they're automatically exempt from being exploited (from the POV of those doing the exploiting).

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So don't do it, then, if you feel so strongly about it.
There is no ethical problem here, however - only one you are trying to create.


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First of all, its a movie. Every movie requires you to suspend a little bit of disbelief. Secondly, its not that implausible. There are retired people who do stuff like this. Third, for him he just needed somewhere to go. He had already traveled and spent time with his grandchild. He was bored. He wanted somewhere to go and this place accommodated him.

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