Harlan County U.S.A. (1976)

Harlan County U.S.A.: Directed by Barbara Kopple. With John L. Lewis, Carl Horn, Norman Yarborough, Logan Patterson. A heartbreaking record of the thirteen-month struggle between a community fighting to survive and a corporation dedicated to the bottom line.

“Harlan County USA (1976) **** u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI used to consider Gates of Heaven and Harlan County USA as in deadlock for the best documentary ever made, but upon watching Harlan County USA again and all the extras available on the Criterion DVD, I have no choice but to move it into the sole number One position. The sense of dread and danger of Harlan County USA elevates it to a whole new level, making it perhaps the most watchable documentary ever made as well – its tense subject matter and the incredible footage captured by Kopple and her crew make it play as a feature film. Koppleu0026#39;s intimate participatory style makes the film even more poignant. The film crew was there with the strikers, amidst the bullets and beatings, at one point being singled out for attack and were beaten by the mining company militants. That they were there meant that they got some absolutely incredible footage, such as the scene described above, and when they catch the main strike breaker pointing his gun at them on film.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHarlan County USA is also an important social document, now housed in the national film registry for preservation. Scenes such as children being washed in buckets, in the 1970s, in the u0026quot;beacon of freedom and democracyu0026quot; The United States of America, really get beyond the rhetoric and show how the government and the big business agenda often trumps the rights of workers – its about maximizing profits not lives.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e4/4”