North Country (2005)

Director:

Niki Caro

Writers (WGA):

Michael Seitzman (screenplay)
Clara Bingham (book) ...

Release Date:

21 October 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

All She Wanted Was To Make A Living. Instead She Made History.

Plot:

A fictionalized account of the first major successful sexual harassment case in the United States -- Jenson vs. Eveleth Mines, where a woman who endured a range of abuse while working as a miner filed and won the landmark 1984 lawsuit.

Plot Keywords:

Miner | Mine | Sexual Harassment | Minnesota | Lawsuit

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 11 nominations

Cast

Charlize Theron	...	Josey Aimes
Elle Peterson	...	Karen Aimes
Thomas Curtis	...	Sammy Aimes
Frances McDormand	...	Glory
Sean Bean	...	Kyle
Woody Harrelson	...	Bill White
Jeremy Renner	...	Bobby Sharp
Richard Jenkins	...	Hank Aimes
Sissy Spacek	...	Alice Aimes
James Cada	...	Don Pearson
Rusty Schwimmer	...	Big Betty
Linda Emond	...	Leslie Conlin
Michelle Monaghan	...	Sherry
Brad William Henke	...	Lattavansky
Jillian Armenante	...	Peg

Also Known As:

Class Action (USA) (working title)
Untitled Niki Caro Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sequences involving sexual harassment including violence and dialogue, and for language.

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R | UK:15 | Ireland:16 | Australia:MA | Japan:R-15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Netherlands:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Brazil:16 | Argentina:16 | France:U | Sweden:7 | Iceland:12 | Malaysia:18PL | Malaysia:U (cut) | Finland:K-15 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

Chisholm, Minnesota, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Some of the women standing up in the last courtroom scene were real plaintiffs.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Bill White is at the bar the first time, from one angle he appears to be drinking Leineinkugel's Honey Weiss beer. When they change angles, he is drinking some other brand. When they go back to the first angle, he's again drinking Leineinkugel's.

Quotes:

Bill White: What are you supposed to do when the ones with all the power are hurting those with none? Well for starters, you stand up. Stand up and tell the truth. You stand up for your friends. You stand up even when you're all alone. You stand up.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "HBO First Look: North Country (#12.23)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Noodles

a meaningful story weakened by the script's shortcomings

Set in the late 1980's comes the story of Josey Aimes, a small-towner and single mother of two with a sordid past that she's tried for years to put behind her. Living with her parents and wanting to make things better for herself but more importantly for her children, she takes a job at a thriving Minnesota iron mine where only a handful of women work under constant oppression and harassment from their licentious male co-workers. Despite her degrading reputation, the possible consequences, and a working staff that seems unwilling to help, she files a lawsuit determined to reclaim her dignity and bridge the gender gap. Although well-crafted, acted, and based on true events, this oddly never convinces; the plotting and characters are set up far too easily, and the intended dramatic climax doesn't pack any punch. Theron is quite good, so is Jenkins as her stern, conflicted dad, surrounded by a capable cast, but the story fails to rise above the level of convention. **½