18
votes
About the times American films focused on labor struggle
Link information
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- Title
- Hollywood on the picket line - 5 unsung films that put America's union history on the silver screen
- Authors
- Peter Dreier
- Published
- Jul 14 2023
- Word count
- 1409 words
Surprised they didn't mention Matewan by John Sayles or How Green Was My Valley by John Ford.
In terms of recent years, I think Nomadland covers this ground. It's about elderly workers who can't afford to retire and go from gig to gig. It got accused of being Amazon propaganda when it initially came out. But I think that's nonsense.
If you know of other interesting films from any country that are about unions or labor action, I would be interested to hear about them
I'm surprised Harlan County, USA by Barbra Knopple didn't get a mention. It's a really great documentary about the miners strike in Harlan County Kentucky in the 70s. It was probably my favorite film I saw in my film history class.
From using traditional strike songs to highlight the issues Knopple covers in the movie to how she really highlights the disparity between the workers and mine owners she does an amazing job.
I can't see that North Country belongs on this list - yes it's pro-worker, but from the description the conflict is lawsuit-based, not union-based.
I'll second Matewan, a fantastic movie that I've rewatched every couple years since I saw it in the theater when it came out. I'd also add The Molly Maguires, about an 1870's coal miner organization in western Pennsylvania that was sabotaged by a treacherous Pinkerton agent.