With the fading of summer and kids back at school, in our own heads we all return to work (even if we never left). As heard in Barack Obama’s rousing convention speech last week, the idea of honest work for honest pay remains very much at the heart of this nation’s capitalist character. Regardless of salary or station, our jobs provide not only bread for the table, but dignity for the spirit. Yet globalization, rapid technology advances and a tanking economy are combining to make the workplace feel increasingly uncertain- even treacherous- these days. The very concept of “job security” sounds quaint. Still, the majority of us lucky enough to have a profession must pursue it, and deal as best we can with the ever-evolving vicissitudes of employment. And- as seen through the revealing lens of timeless film, you can derive a measure of comfort and perspective amidst the seeming complexity of it all, first because you’re not alone, and second, because the vagaries of office politics-and its attendant risks- are really nothing new. Here are some outstanding titles profiling different professions that demonstrate this point.