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Harlan County, U.S.A.
(1976),
Director: Barbara Kopple, rated PG
A
remarkable, passionate work. A reminder that there
cannot be neutrals anywhere.
  Interviews:
Norman Yarborough, Houston Elmore, Phil Sparks, John Corcoran,
John O'Leary, Donald Rasmussen, Dr. Hawley Wells Jr., Tom
Williams, Harry Patrick, William E. Simon
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★★☆
- near perfect
"I found out that the
union officials were working with the coal companies. I also
found that the Catholic hierarchy was working with the coal
companies. Here was a combination of the whole thing, you see:
you had to bump against the whole combination of them." –
Hawley Wells Jr.
Why watch this? It
is an incredible documentary about hard-living coal miners.
Plot Summary:
This film documents a 1973 coal miners' strike in Harlan County,
Kentucky. The miners at the Brookside Mine, owned by Eastover
Mining Company, vote to join the United Mine Workers of America
(UMWA). When the company refuses to sign a contract, the miners
begin a strike, seeking better wages, safer working conditions,
and recognition of their union. The film captures the ensuing
year-long struggle, showcasing the miners and their families as
they face off against company management, hired strikebreakers,
and local law enforcement, ultimately fighting for their rights
and community survival.
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Dad's Preview:
The filmmaker, Barbara Kopple,
became heavily involved in the miner's struggle. This film will
make you angry against the damn system, as many documentaries
do, but there is something special about this Oscar-winning
effort. Perhaps it's the voices of the fed-up men and women
fighting for the right to be fairly compensated for sacrificing their
health and well-being just to feed their desperate families.
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Cabin
Creek Films; Cinema 5 |
