George Clooney's 'Up in the Air' on Arte: A Satire of Corporate Firing

The film 'Up in the Air' (2009) by Jason Reitman will air on Arte on July 15 and be available in the media library until August 13. The story follows Ryan Bingham (George Clooney), a professional corporate downsizer who travels 322 days a year to fire employees across the USA. His lifestyle is threatened by a new colleague, Natalie (Anna Kendrick), a Harvard graduate who proposes conducting layoffs via video chat to save travel costs. Bingham's goal is to become the seventh person to reach 10 million bonus miles. The film also features Alex (Vera Farmiga), who becomes closer to Bingham than expected. Reitman's sharp satire balances criticism with affection for its characters.