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Harlan County U.S.A.
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Harlan County U.S.A.

film by Kopple [1976]
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Harlan County U.S.A. is a 1976 documentary film directed by Barbara Kopple that chronicles the 1973 Brookside Mine strike in Harlan County, Kentucky. The strike began when miners voted to join the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) seeking better wages and conditions. The mine owners, Eastover Mining Company, refused to sign the contract, leading to a 13-month struggle marked by violence and arrests. Kopple immersed herself in the community for four years, capturing the miners' fight and the crucial role of their families in supporting the strike. The film also touches on the historical context of the Harlan County War of the 1930s and the prevalence of black lung disease among miners. The documentary is widely considered a landmark in labor filmmaking.12

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. Bloody Harlan
  2. Barbara Kopple

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