Harlan County U.S.A.

About Harlan County U.S.A.

Harlan County, U.S.A. is a 1976 Oscar-winning documentary film covering the "Brookside Strike", an effort of 180 coal miners and their wives against the Duke Power Company-owned Eastover Coal Company's Brookside Mine and Prep Plant in Harlan County, southeast Kentucky in 1973. Directed and produced by Barbara Kopple, this film is an examination of the lives and environment of these courageous workers, and how their fight is not merely for better conditions but survival itself.

Making / Production

Barbara Kopple's production company, Cabin Creek Films, handled the production of Harlan County, U.S.A. Kopple and her crew spent years with the miners and their families, documenting the strike. They faced intimidation and violent threats but persevered to capture the raw and evocative scenes that form the bedrock of the film.

Actors

• Norman Yarborough - Eastover Coal Company's lead, his unrestrained attitude towards miners' rights is depicted unflinchingly.
• Houston Elmore - A miner involved in the strike, his courage and perseverance form pivotal aspects of the documentary.
• Phil Sparks - A young miner, his role provides a lens into the experiences of the younger generation in this struggle.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Was one of the few documentaries ever released by a major studio.
• Director Barbara Kopple was shot at while making this film.
• Despite being a documentary, the film has a cliffhanger-style climax with a major twist.

Awards

The film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 1977, underlining its exceptional quality and depth of coverage.

Quotes

• "They say in Harlan County, there aren't any neutrals there." - Opening song.
• "The only thing we got here is our unity as miners." - Miner Houston Elmore.

Music, Soundtrack

• 'Which Side Are You On?' - Performed by Florence Reece, it's one of the most iconic coal mining union songs and shapes the tone of the film.
• 'Harlan County Line' - Written and performed by Dave Alvin, it was used in the opening scene.