Harlan County, U.S.A. (The Criterion Collection) [DVD]

This fantastic documentary captured open class war in the coalfields as it happened. Militant miners forced into battle against the advance of the bosses were pitted against an array of scabs, snipers, thugs, and the armed forces of the state. Barbara Kopple caught it all on film. Today the coal fields are in shambles. The bosses are wrangling out the last profits through acquisitions, bankruptcies and the court supported abandonment of retired miners. The UMW is a shadow of its former self. Poverty, hopelessness and addiction have swept through to fill the void. The results are there for all with eyes to see. Watch this documentary for a glimpse of what is possible when workers organize and fight.

Phenomenal!!! My family lived through this!!! My grandfather is the man in the orange hat close to the end of the movie who placed his car on the tracks and would not let the “scabs” pass. He was speaking with the sheriff... so sad it didn’t show his precious little face!!!

Filmed between 1973 and 1974, Kopple's groundbreaking work gets up close and personal with the downtrodden rural miners, who are deprived of fair wages and insurance, and forced to shop at the company store. As her roving, restless camera makes plain, Eastover operates in collusion with the Harlan police, who look the other way when its representatives start taking pot shots at miners (and Kopple herself). Few documentaries today have the immediacy, intensity, or militant appeal of this Oscar-winning film, an edge-of-your-seat tribute to a courageous group of hard hats and their families. "Harlan County, USA" is real-life drama of the highest order.

One of my fav documentaries. Barbara Kopple was ground breaking and extremely talented. Everything she does is filled with emotion that clearly tells a story and in this case, the plight of underpaid miners who risked their health and very lives to earn a meager living to support their families. And all while the fat cat executives got fatter. Fascinating story.

This is one of the 100 greatest movies ever made. It happens to be a documentary, but the story is as stirring and suspenseful as any Hollywood thriller. It should be seen by every American, a devastating document of corruption, assassination, gunplay, music and most of all heroism, especially by the women of eastern Kentucky in the coalminers' fight for a contract with the Duke Power Company aka Duke Energy.

This movie is a very credible portrayal of the coal miners struggle to get UMWA representation in Harlan County, KY.

Almost too dreary to watch, but it documents a heroic fight for justice among people who are too often ignored, even today. Information we all need to know.

Excellent. Excellent. Excellent. The women of Harlan County who fought this battle are true heroes. This film documents the good, the bad, and the downright ugly and frightening...and how a group of women had the courage to stand up and speak out. Lois Scott, in my opinion, is another Norma Rae!

A historic documentary of American mineworkers' strike for improved conditions. Extremely moving and inspiring for anyone with social interests.The music is something else.

Shows what it was like with the bosses and their thuggish henchmen,only difference with UK our bosses had policemen.Very well made.

A fascinating insight into events in Harlan County. What it must have been like in the 30's defies imagination.Excellent music score too.

5* What else to say?

Premio Oscar per il documentario nel 1976 o 1977... La lotta quotidiana per la vita dei minatori del Kentucky nei primi anni 70.