Review of Harlan County U.S.A. (1977) by Jake G — 24 Oct 2009
HARLAN COUNTY, USA is one of the finest documentaries ever made. Like the best of its genre, it depicted momentous events with scintillating you-are-there immediacy. Over the course of its 100 minute running time, we get to know an impoverished group of people- the coal miner and his family.
This movie is not just about men on strike; it shows what happens when a group of people, however uneducated and poor, take a stand against the system. And clearly what they face is the system- not only the "scabs" and coal companies, but state politicians and state police.
Two things I was unaware of at the outset: first, how long these things can take. The strike lasted an entire year! Second, how violent and bloody things can turn at a moment's notice. The coal company hired machine gun thugs to intimidate the miners- it read like a mafia drama.
Men died to get the coal contract- shots were fired, blood was spilled. HARLAN COUNTY, USA is a chilling documentation of how greed can destroy things like concern for fellow man; and how bullying can take place outside of the third grade playground, in the realm of big business and politics.
This review of Harlan County U.S.A. (1977) was written by Jake G on 24 Oct 2009.
Harlan County U.S.A. has generally received very positive reviews.
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