Harlan County War

I am biased about Holly Hunter, having enjoyed all her movies (excluding A Life Less Ordinary) right back to Broadcast News and Harlan County War is a fine addition to her record.

In her first TV movie appearance for 7 years, she is the main focus of the gripping account of a particularly nasty miners' strike in Eastern Kentucky in the early 1970s and her portrayal of Ruby Kincaid has the ring of authenticity, extraordinary focus and real passion I've come to expect.Definite echoes of Roe vs. Wade for me - not just because that too was set in the 1970s but the whole feel of the movies is similar - both have very strong scripts and the acting of everyone involved is spot on. It was also interesting to contrast the approach taken with the UK movie " Brassed Off " which so successfully highlighted the many wounds (few yet healed totally) resulting from the 1984 miners strike in England - also a very bitter dispute.

There are many wonderful moments in Harlan County - the scenes with Ruby and her black lung infected dad - evoking the poignant scenes between daughter and dad in Home For The Holidays - the strong rapport between Ruby and husband, and the gradual awareness of how strongly Ruby feels about not giving in to the mining company. For anyone who, like me, is an admirer of Holly Hunter's work this film is a must and long after watching it, images of the dispute lingered on in my mind. As usual, the other question I kept asking myself : is there a better character actor or actress than Hunter alive today ? Easy answer to that one - no.

This movie works well on many different levels. Holly Hunter is

brilliant as Ruby Kincaid the wife of Silas - the story shows how

her 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 of

labor and management battles - the final line where guns are

drawn, both sides back away and then one man is killed before

serious and ultimately successful negotiations are made is very

stark.

The score is also very well done.

In the tradition of "Norma Rae," this honest and commendable account of the on-going "class warfare" in Bloody Harlan County between the coal mine workers and the mine owners provides a gritty history lesson, especially for young viewers unfamiliar with this vital chapter in our labor struggles. Holly Hunter is nothing less than magnificent, as is the entire cast superbly directed by Tony Bill. The authetic music of Appallachia aids considerably to this must-see film.

I take issue with those who have said this is not an accurate depiction of Appalachian coal country, though I will admit it's probably more representative of parts of West Virginia than Kentucky. I spent 14 years in WV, my wife is from WV and her father grew up in a coal camp.

My wife's grandmother didn't have running water or indoor plumbing until the '70's (heck members of *my* family didn't have indoor plumbing until the late '60's and I grew up in PA!).

I have known many people in WV who sound very much like Holly Hunter in this film, and even dated a woman from the coalfields of southern WV with a similar accent.

The geography also reminds me of WV (though admittedly it wasn't filmed there).

All-in-all an excellent film, and it's hard to believe it represents events as recent as the '70's! We've (until recently) come a long way and we need films like this to remind us how bad things recently were and could soon be again (or worse re: last year's Utah mine disaster).

I have spent my entire life in Harlan County, Kentucky. Growing up, working and now raising my own children here. To those of you who believe this movie has anything real to teach you about my home, I can tell you it has only a minimal similarity to reality. It is based on a nearly thirty-year-old Oscar-winning film, Harlan County USA, which for a documentary about the 1970s-era strike at Eastover Mining Company was one of the most complete works of fiction ever created. This admittedly fictionalized version of that original fiction doesn't look like Harlan County, sound like Harlan County, or even remotely evoke Harlan County, which at least the documentary did, even though most of its details were way out of whack. Although stereotypes abound, I can recommend this movie as a competent piece of fiction and a satisfying, though somewhat overwrought, drama. In short, typical made-for-TV fodder. But don't for one minute think it resembles real people or real life in Harlan County, Kentucky in any useful way. That story doesn't exist yet in the minds of producers anywhere. Appalachia and the entertainment industry have yet to understand one another.