Harlan County, U.S.A. (1976)
Genre: Documentary
Duration: 103 minuten
Country:
United States
Directed by: Barbara Kopple
Starst: Norman Yarborough, Houston Elmore and Phil Sparks
IMDb score:
8,2 (7.586)
Releasedate: 23 January 1977
Harlan County, U.S.A. plot
"Which Side Are You On?"
This documentary reports on a strike by the workers of the 'Brookside Mine' of the 'Eastover Mining Company' in Harlan County, Kentucky June, 1973. In addition to a report of the one-year strike, this documentary also provides background information about mining in the United States in general.
Actors and actresses
Himself - Eastover Mining President
Himself - UMW organizer
Himself - UMW staff
Herself
Herself
Herself
Himself - mine foreman
Herself
Herself
Reviews & comments
Vinokourov
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- 3143 messages
- 2909 votes
Excellent coverage of a miners' strike in Kentucky. What sad, hopeless working conditions there were 40 years ago. Unbelievable 
. Barbara Kopple keeps the camera rolling and shows what happens. Nothing more, nothing less. The miners speak frequently, and you gain real respect for their courage and perseverance. Support from the unions was anything but a given, and then you also have strike breakers and a lot of intimidation.
I am currently reading *A People's History of the United States* by Howard Zinn. The book aligns seamlessly with this documentary. It is quite left-leaning and sometimes lacks a dissenting voice, but overall, it is bizarre what kind of things happened in the US that the common man fell victim to. For anyone who found this documentary impressive and has an above-average interest in American history, I can recommend that book.
Translated from Dutch · View original
mrklm
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- 12367 messages
- 10458 votes
Oscar-winning documentary about the struggle of ordinary miners for better working conditions. With the support of the union, they organize a strike, but the bitter struggle with the employers takes increasingly grim forms, making it ever more difficult to maintain solidarity and persevere in their protest.
A very revealing film with some incredible footage, such as the moment when one of the strike breakers opens fire on a number of strikers, and with an array of ordinary Americans whose sense of community and historical awareness—expressed, among other things, in a number of poignant songs—this is a film whose socio-historical value has only increased more than 40 years later in a country where workers are still losing out en masse to bosses who seem to be out only for profit.
Translated from Dutch · View original
starbright boy (moderator films)
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- 22647 messages
- 5261 votes
Not entirely a fly-on-the-wall, as Kopple makes it clear that her sympathy lies with the strikers and her viewpoint is clearly part of the film. The film is about the fight of the common man against capital. Something that has certainly not become any less relevant in the US over the past few decades. Many companies still pursue a demotivating policy towards unions. Throughout the film, it becomes clear how dirty the game being played is. It really goes very far. Kopple portrays the strikers and their family members with great affection, and the Bluegrass music in the film speaks to the people themselves. An important film.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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