Harlan County USA (1976): A Documentary Review

Main Themes:

• Labor Struggle and Unionization: The documentary chronicles the brutal Brookside Strike in Harlan County, Kentucky, where coal miners fought for recognition of their union, the United Mine Workers of America, and improved working conditions.

• Female Empowerment and Resilience: The film highlights the crucial role of women in sustaining the strike, using their collective strength and nonviolent tactics like picketing and roadblocks to challenge the company and law enforcement.

• Violence and Intimidation: The documentary exposes the harsh reality of the strike, capturing the violence inflicted upon the miners and their families by the company, scabs, and law enforcement.

• Power of Film as Witness and Catalyst: The filmmakers acknowledge their role in potentially deterring violence and raising awareness about the miners’ plight, ultimately contributing to their victory.

Important Ideas and Facts:

• Dangerous Working Conditions: Coal mining was a dangerous profession with frequent fatalities and injuries, a fact accepted as a grim reality by the miners.

"I never heard anyone in my family say they loved coal mining they just did it that's what there was to do and so there was nothing to like about working really really in harsh conditions having people dying around you and and not making enough money"

• Tensions and Mistrust: Initially, the miners were suspicious of the filmmakers, perceiving them as outsiders and questioning their motives.

"Our first meeting was not all that amiable and because of the rumors that had went around people were talking that there was this sort of hippy New York filmmaker in there and they didn't really know what she was doing."

• Fearlessness of Women: The women emerged as a formidable force in the strike, confronting the company and police with courage and determination.

"She was the person that got things moving she pushed the envelope she was fearless I don't think I've ever met anybody quite so fearless"

• Civil Disobedience: The women employed innovative tactics of civil disobedience, disrupting operations and garnering attention to their cause.

"This is the beginning of when the women have come into into play and we're using the civil disobedience tactics that they they they that probably had never been used on a picket line before"

• Impact of Filming: The presence of the camera potentially deterred violence and provided a platform for the miners' struggle to reach a wider audience.

"I think the cameras probably saved a bunch of shoot I really don't think we'd won that without fan group that's the film crew hadn't been sympathetic to our calls we would have lost"

• Victory and Recognition: The documentary culminates in the miners' victory and the film winning an Academy Award, amplifying the story of their struggle and resilience.

"I remember when and said Harlan County the people on either side of me just sort of pushed me up and I could feel my heart sort of beating in the room and right after that moment the first call that I made was to Harlan County and the people were screaming and yelling and I could hear them we won an award we won an award and they were running around"

Overall Impression:

“Harlan County USA” is a powerful and moving testament to the struggles of working-class Americans fighting for their rights. The documentary captures the raw emotions, violence, and ultimately, the triumph of the miners and their families, making it a timeless portrayal of the fight for justice and dignity in the face of adversity.