hrhqueene As the granddaughter of a coal miner who was also a union organizer, and having been born and brought up in Appalachia, I was highly interested in the theme of this film. What a huge disappointment. Holly Hunter grunts and twangs like a deranged Daisy Mae, almost unintelligibly at times. Her accent is not at all mountain, but cartoonish. One could expect much more from an Academy Award winner.Also, it might come as a huge shock to some, but people in Kentucky and West Virginia have had electricity, running water, and indoor facilities for at least 50 years now. Not only that, but--hold onto your seat, now--most women there don't go around dressed like a Dorothea Lange photograph (and didn't in 1973, either!); nor do the children all go barefoot; nor does everyone live in rusted-out shacks.For a much more realistic picture of mine families, try "October Sky". The story is set earlier, in the 50's; but you can see that even then, people had more semblance of civilization that the dismal one-step-up-from-HeeHaw that "Harlan County War" portrays.A strange irony that this film, supposedly sympathetic to the plight of families suffering because of corporate greed, was shot in British Columbia during the film crew strike. Shame on them. Shame on me, too, for wasting money and irreplaceable time on this letdown.

jtpaladin As most films made in Hollywood are, this film had a certain degree of fiction attached to it. Even so, I did enjoy the acting and the scenes moved along very nicely. However, as much as I enjoyed Holly Hunter's acting, I really don't enjoy seeing her on screen considering her extreme left-wing views and hate of anti-communists. She was one of a handful of actors that refused to honor the great Director, Elia Kazan, when he was honored by the Academy. What did Kazan do wrong in her mind? He identified known communists in the film industry when ordered to do so by not only the film companies but also under penalty of perjury by Congress. Kazan did his Constitutional duty by identifying those that were acting in the capacity as agents of the Soviet Union. So, Holly Hunter protested Kazan for something that happened 50 years ago. I think there are many fine actresses that could have played Hunter's role and because of her anti-American positions, I think the role should have been given to someone else. Otherwise, I would have rated the film higher.Lastly, the closing epilogue states that only half of coal miners are Unionized, as if that was a crime in of itself. The reality is that non-unionized coal workers prosper as well if not better and clearly the film makers were trying to suggest otherwise inspite of this fact. So, yes, the film was made as partly a piece of propaganda. The fact is that since the 1950's the UMWA (the Union in the film) has been steadily losing ground in a very quiet war against non-union coal producers. By 1980 the industry of coal production amounted to more than fifty percent of non-union workers. However, even with the little propaganda and Holly Hunter's inclusion in the film, I still recommend this film.

PeachHamBeach CAUTION: POSSIBLE SPOILERS...Brookside, KY, in the early 1970s. A coal mines roof has caved in and killed two hard working miners. Before the inspectors get there to see what happened, the big company has cleaned the mess hastily. They "graciously" tell Silas (Ted Levine) that they'll let him do "easy" work tomorrow. You'd think that after someone witnessed two hideous deaths, their boss would give them a few days OFF!!! But no, production is the priority, people are not.This made for cable film is kind of reminiscent of ERIN BROCKOVICH, pitting "regular" people, regarded as nothings by big greedy business, against the big greedy business.Holly Hunter is superb as Ruby, Silas' wife. She and her family live in a run down house with no indoor plumbing. She runs the household while her husband and father, who is dying of Coal Miner's Disease, are down in the mines.A union representative comes into town (Stellan Skaarsgard) and tries to convince everyone, including the coal miners' wives, that a strike is the way to fight the injustice of low wages, poverty, lack of medical benefits and suffering. These poor people are as oppressed and trodden upon as if they were actual slaves. At first the people are cynical about another union. The last union in town did they dirty with a capital D.But in time, the union rep makes these people see that they need to protest being used and then cast aside like bean pods. The biggest example of "we'll use your labor today and let you rot tomorrow" is the illness and subsequent death of Ruby's father. Soon the men, women and children of Brookside are involved in a bitter, violent strike. Nobody with any clout to speak of sides with them. Law enforcement have been deployed to thwart their efforts to keep "scabs" (men who will work even cheaper than the actual employees) out and to shut the coal mine down. What's really scarey is that back in the 1800's battles like these were even more violent. The bluegrass music of Appalachia was beautiful. Moments of banjo and fiddle and scenes of men jolly with moonshine were delightful and gave me a respite from the violence and sadness that permeates this film.I give it an A+

deomorto This movie works well on many different levels. Holly Hunter isbrilliant as Ruby Kincaid the wife of Silas - the story shows howher strength of heart and will comes from an inner belief and drive.the movie also shows how tough it can be at the sharp end oflabor and management battles - the final line where guns aredrawn, both sides back away and then one man is killed beforeserious and ultimately successful negotiations are made is verystark.The score is also very well done.