North Country
2005
***
Director: Niki Caro
Cast: Charlize Theron, Frances McDormand, Richard Jenkins, Sissy Spacek, Woody Harrelson, Sean Bean, Michelle Monaghan, Jeremy Renner
In the late 1980s a group of women take jobs in Minnesota iron mines. They enter a male-dominated world where they're subjected to brutal sexual harassment. Josey, a hard-luck single mom reaches her breaking point and decides to take action against the company. Niki Caro's first Hollywood film was inspired by Class Action: The Story of Lois Jenson and the Landmark Case That Changed Sexual Harassment Law. This non-fiction book is transformed into a compelling fictional story which walks a fine line between gritty social drama and overdramatic soap opera. Charlize Theron gives a very strong performance, although she's a bit too stunning to be believable as a miner.
