Harlan County U.S.A.
“Which Side Are You On?”
This film documents the coal miners' strike against the Brookside Mine of the Eastover Mining Company in Harlan County, Kentucky in June, 1973. Eastovers refusal to sign a contract (when the miners joined with the United Mine Workers of America) led to the strike, which lasted more than a year and included violent battles between gun-toting company thugs/scabs and the picketing miners and their supportive women-folk. Director Barbara Kopple puts the strike into perspective by giving us some background on the historical plight of the miners and some history of the UMWA.
This is a visceral, ground-level look at a community fighting for survival. It feels urgent and deeply human, capturing the raw struggle and unwavering spirit of people pushed to their limits. A powerful testament to collective action.
