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Moral dilemma

Stephen is in dire need of money. He is working three part-time jobs and is constantly being turned down from other job interviews. His living conditions are also affected by this. Stephen lives in a small apartment, he eats cheap food, and he has limited access to technology as he most likely cannot afford buying a computer and therefore has to use the computer at a public library. Moreover, Stephen is faced with a large medical bill after a hospital treatment. As a result, Stephen seeks out a job as a paralegal at a law firm that offers “compensation above market average and (…) an excellent benefits programme” (07:18-07-22). Therefore, his great need for money seems to motivate his desperate act of lying to Carl to obtain the job as a paralegal at a law firm.

However, Carl is shown to have similar needs. Carl has also encountered difficulties when looking for jobs. He states that “this is my first interview in months” (10:46). Unlike Stephen, Carl also has children, and his son has recently been hospitalised. Therefore, the short film presents a moral dilemma. Is Stephen entitled to cut Carl’s chances of competing for a job because Stephen’s financial situation is a difficult one? Consider that Carl seems to also have a di...