The area has been an important site in the history of the labor movement in the US. She used the paper to write a song she called “Which Side Are You On?” It became one of the most enduring and well-known songs of the labor movement, and an anthem for workers on strike. Harlan County War: Amazon.de: VHS Wählen Sie Ihre Cookie-Einstellungen Wir verwenden Cookies und ähnliche Tools, um Ihr Einkaufserlebnis zu verbessern, um unsere Dienste anzubieten, um zu verstehen, wie die Kunden unsere Dienste nutzen, damit wir Verbesserungen vornehmen … Movies. The tension grew in Harlan County. Overall, this documentary is wonderful in its ability to immerse the audience in the feeling, look, and culture of Harlan County. There was already coal mining in Harlan County at the turn of the 20th century. What happened in Harlan County is a microcosm of what happened in the coal industry and the union movement throughout the 20th century. Martin Lewison . (1976). A documentary on perception of the United States's war with Iraq, with an emphasis on Al Jazeera's coverage. Not only does the film focus on the extreme degree of poverty and working conditions that are accepted in Appalachia, but specifically follows the wives of the strikers. Just like the strike of 1931, the mine operators brought in strikebreakers. Then, to keep themselves afloat, they cut the worker’s wages. Few documentaries today have the immediacy, intensity, or militant appeal of this Oscar-winning film, an edge-of-your-seat tribute to a courageous group of hard hats and their families. However, like everything else in the US, it all came to a standstill in 1929. From petty paybacks to insane acts of karma, these bitter people somehow found the most ingenious ways…. However, when they presented their contract to the mine operators, their bosses ignored them. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Then, in the decade after that, it doubled. A startling and courageous landmark documentary that unflinchingly confronted the United States' involvement in Vietnam at the height of the controversy that surrounded it. What happened in Harlan County is one of the most remarkable and harrowing stories in the history of labor, filled with tragedy, intrigue, violence—and most importantly, solidarity. Even when there were no strikes, the mine operators and their cronies still intimidated, attacked, and even murdered workers and union advocates. TV Shows . As Sam’s wife Florence later recounted, someone came to warn him that Blair and his men were coming to shoot him. Harlan County, USA is a 1976 American documentary film covering the "Brookside Strike" a 1973 effort of 180 coal miners and their wives against the Duke Power Company -owned Eastover Coal Company's Brookside Mine and Prep Plant in Harlan County, southeast Kentucky. The combination of a weakened union and dwindling industry has spelled disaster for Harlan County. My mom never told me how her best friend died. This is neither positive nor negative because it is often necessary in a documentary. The best revenge might be living well, but that doesn't mean we can always turn the other cheek. As Sam’s wife Florence later recounted, someone came to warn him that Blair and his men were coming to shoot him. At the same time, some unexpected allies came along: Barbara Kopple, an independent documentary filmmaker, and her camera crew. When three hundred thousand members of the Love Generation collided with a few dozen Hells Angels at San Francisco's Altamont Speedway, the bloody slash that transformed a decade's dreams into disillusionment was immortalized on this film. First, the film uses a subject that is unfamiliar to the average American. The Harlan County Coal Miners, 1931–39 (University of Illinois Press, 2002) is also titled after the song. The song plays during the end credits of the 2016 drama In Dubious Battle. As the most commanding mistress in the French court, she bettered the lives of many and became a beloved figure…. In conclusion, "Harlan Co., USA", by Barbara Kopple is stylistically a fine example of a political documentary. Unemployment is regularly much higher than the national average, and so is the average income. None of the so-called “gun-thugs” who shuttled the strikebreakers back and forth wanted the filmmakers to catch them on camera brandishing their pistols. I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. In 2019, a mining company named Blackjewel Coal declared bankruptcy, leaving miners in the lurch without pay or access to their 401(k)s. When workers learned that the company planned to transport about $1 million worth of coal out of a mine in Harlan County, they were furious. Barbara Kopple (born July 30, 1946) is an American film director known primarily for her documentary work. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. Celebrate Black History Month with IMDb's exclusive galleries, recommendations, videos, and more. Since the mines’ more profitable days, the population has dwindled  The life expectancy is far below the national average. Was this review helpful to you? Add the first question. One night, infuriated at the harassment of her family by local law enforcement, she wrote the song. On the other hand, the demand for coal dropped sharply. Kopple is no exception. There's something about the family structure that encourages secrets. The audience is pulled into sympathy with the workers through guilt by association. This film documents the coal miners' strike against the Brookside Mine of the Eastover Mining Company in Harlan County, Kentucky in June, 1973. Director Barbara Kopple puts the strike into perspective by giving us some background on the historical plight of the miners and some history of the UMWA. All Rights Reserved. Madame de Pompadour didn't just share King Louis XV's bed, she also shared his power. Documentary. On May 5, 1931 the pot boiled over; in Harlan County Kentucky, heavily armed deputies and company men, called “gun thugs” by miners, confronted disgruntled union men on a road near Evarts. In fact, only three other counties out of 3,142 in the US have a lower life expectancy than Harlan County. Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? Instead of just telling the audience in the first person what is going on or key pieces of background information, she creatively interjects them into the film in three ways. Documentary covering Bob Dylan's 1965 tour of England, which includes appearances by Joan Baez and Donovan. Eastovers refusal to sign a contract (when the miners joined with the United Mine Workers of America) led to the strike, which lasted more than a year and included violent battles between gun-toting company thugs/scabs and the picketing miners and their supportive women-folk. Well, Kopple had been working on a documentary about the leadership of the UMW. Thanks for your help! Harlan County USA (1976) **** I used to consider Gates of Heaven and Harlan County USA as in deadlock for the best documentary ever made, but upon watching Harlan County USA again and all the extras available on the Criterion DVD, I have no choice but to move it into the sole number One position. "Harlan Co., USA" is a political documentary directed by Barbara Kopple. The strike began. Votes: 4,999 | Gross: $2.59M These instances give the audience a sense of history with the community and explain that the plight of the current workers is nothing new. Often called “nearly insufferable” and “surprisingly vulgar,” Samantha Henman is a senior editor at Factinate. Thanks for your time! With Harlan County U.S.A., Barbara Kopple brought the exploitation of miners in the Appalachian region to national attention. They are only with the mine workers families through out the strike and are shown only one side of a very complicated issue. In order to keep coal in play as a fuel of choice, Harlan’s coal mine operators began to sell below cost. What is important is that the main characters of the film are unique enough to give the film legitimacy. Written by Sometimes, Kopple would even pretend to keep shooting even when she had no film left, in hopes that she could protect the workers and their families. A documentary of the Bill Clinton 1992 presidential campaign and the organization who ran it. Jim H Super Reviewer Jan 06, 2011 Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. The county was the subject of the documentary film Harlan County, USA (1976), directed by Barbara Kopple. Sadly, in the intervening years, the spotlight faded. From 1910 to 1920, the population tripled. Kopple had ingratiated herself and her crew with the wives and families of the miners, who were just as active in the unionization and strike. Get Up, Stand Up: The Story of Pop and Protest part 1, 2003 documentary. Tom, fifteen years old, a son of Adrian Metcalf, Deputy U.S. Barbara found a subject that a normal American at the time would have neither cared about nor had access to if they did care. They formed a blockade on the tracks to stop the train, once again shining a spotlight on Harlan County. Cal Winslow takes a look back. Directed by Tony Bill. The UMW had made great inroads with the people of Harlan County. Although these miners today have no union, the mines of Harlan County have a storied history of grassroots labor militancy. I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. Late one night Blair and his men went to the house of Sam Reece, a union leader. Certificate: GP A heartbreaking record of the thirteen-month struggle between a community fighting to survive and a corporation dedicated to the bottom line. By 1973, all the miners at the Brookside Mine had agreed to join the union. When they finally left, a furious Florence Reece ripped a calendar off the wall. In the intervening 40 years, things did not get better in Harlan County—at least they didn’t for the miners. Blair and his lackeys. He eventually called what the mine operators had done “the worst reign of terror in the history of the county.” The tides had turned in favor of the workers for the first time—but the battle wasn’t over. Harlan County U.S.A. I also participated in a UMWA strike in 1989 (as a female student in high school) so I understand the nature of a sometimes violent strike that lasts for over a year. I have seen the documentary "Harlan County USA" and know the story based on those accounts. The film portrays coal mine workers in Eastern Kentucky throughout a thirteen month long strike and the effects the strike has on their demeanor.

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