Harlan County U.S.A. is a documentary film that provides an in-depth look at the 13-month-long strike by the coal miners of the Eastover Mining Company in Harlan County, Kentucky. The film follows the miners and their families as they fight for their rights and dignity against a powerful corporation that refuses to recognize their union.
Barbara Kopple, the director, does an excellent job of capturing the intensity and violence of the strike as well as the personal struggles and sacrifices of the miners and their families. Through interviews with the strikers and their supporters, as well as archival footage and photographs, the film provides a historical context for the strike and the broader labor movement in the United States.
In addition to documenting the strike, the film also highlights the broader social and economic issues faced by the miners and their families, including poverty, lack of access to healthcare and education, and environmental degradation. Overall, Harlan County U.S.A. is a powerful and moving film that sheds light on the struggles of working-class Americans and the importance of collective action in the fight for justice and equality.