North Country (2005)

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.

Director:

Niki Caro

Writers:

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

Stars:

Charlize Theron, Thomas Curtis, Frances McDormand

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 15 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charlize Theron	...	Josey Aimes
Thomas Curtis	...	Sammy Aimes
Elle Peterson	...	Karen 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

Storyline

A semi-fictionalized account of a long legal battle of group of women miners who endured a hostile work environment and numerous and continuous insults and unwanted touching when they became the first women to go work at the Eveleth Mines in Minnesota.

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Plot Keywords:

miner | mine | minnesota | sexual harassment | lawsuit | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros [France] Warner Bros. [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 October 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Class Action

Filming Locations:

Chisholm, Minnesota, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$247,375 (Australia) (3 February 2006)

Gross:

$502,980 (South Africa) (3 March 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Industry Entertainment, Participant Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There were multiple trials (not just the one depicted in the movie). In the first trial Jenson and two other women petitioned to have the lawsuit designated a class action, on behalf of all women working in the mines. The judge certified a class action including only the hourly women workers at the mine, not the officer workers who were on salary, and were also sexually harassed. The second trial established that sexual harassment actually did occur and that the firm was liable for it. The third trial was about the amount of monetary damages each woman suffered and the was a disaster because the findings were ridiculously low and the women were abused by defense attorneys representing the firm. The fourth trial was in the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals which reversed on the award of damages. Finally, just prior to the start of the 5th trial to determine damages anew, the company settled, paying average damages of about $233,000 to each of the women plaintiffs.

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Goofs

Near the start of the film, Josey is filling her truck with gas. The sign behind her shows a price of $1.71 per gallon. In winter 1989, US gas prices were $.90-$1 per gallon. According to the US department of Energy, Minnesota gas prices did not reach that level until April 2001, and not again until April 2004.

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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.

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Connections

Featured in 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2006)

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Soundtracks

"Girl Of The North Country"
Written by Bob Dylan
Performed by Leo Kottke
(Live at No Exit)
Courtesy of Round Wound Sound, Inc.

User Reviews

'What are you supposed to do when the ones with all the power are hurting those with none?'

I thought this would be one of those issue-based legal drama movies about sexual harassment where the main character is harassed a couple of times and then she eventually fights back. I was apprehensive about buying it. I mean I wanted to see it but whether it was worth buying was another thing. After checking, I decided to gamble. I bought the DVD and watched it and discovered that 'North Country' is about much more than sexual harassment. As the film progresses towards the end, we are addressed more important themes such as the consequence of rape on the relationship between a mother and child and how her silence is used as a weapon against her. However, while these issues are interestingly dealt with and fit the story they slightly deviate from the main theme of sexual harassment.

Niki Caro does a fine job in directing. Her intentions are sincere. Perhaps the script could have been a little tighter and the courtroom sequences could have been better handled as they are a little too dramatic and unrealistic, especially the judge letting White to argue his case that way. In addition to that, the case became more about Josey's sex life rather than the actual harassment and terrorizing in the workplace. Even though this provides a twist in the story and explains a lot of Josie's situation, it takes away from the main theme. Also most of the male characters have been caricatured. I understand the film is about Josey which may be the reason why these characters weren't given much attention but even Josey's father is portrayed as a misogynist and all of a sudden he is shown to have a change of heart. It would have liked to see this characters inner conflict as he plays a crucial role in Josey's life.

In the technical front, the cinematography is smooth and gives us some spectacular glimpse of the snowy landscape and the coal mines. The sound effect and country-feel soundtrack are quite good too.

Charlize Theron deserves all the recognition she got for giving a strong, confidant and heartfelt performance as the brave hard-working and headstrong Josey Aimes. She breathes fire into her role and, along with Frances McDormand, she's the heart of the film. McDormand performs naturally and her tragic character provides some great comic relief. She has some witty one-liners that bring a smile. While most of the guys are portrayed as nasty sleazy men, Sean Bean's Kyle is the complete opposite. Nonetheless, the actor does a fine job (quite a deviation from what the type of roles he's more famous for). Harrelson's Bill White suffers from poor characterization. His character is a bit too sketchy. Harrelson tries the best with what he's got and turns in a decent enough performance. Richard Jenkins too suffers from poor writing. Sissy Spacek has a tiny role but she has a subtle dignified presence and her character contributes to one of the major turning points of the story. Rusty Schwimmer and Michelle Monaghan are adequate.

'North Country' isn't an easy film to watch because of the explicit scenes of sexual harassment and the haunting rape scene but it is a relevant film. Not only is it about women's rights, it's about everyone's right to live a life with dignity, to work with dignity. It's about standing up against injustice rather than turning a blind eye. It's about protecting your loved ones and fighting for what you believed in. Though 'North Country' isn't without its share of flaws (it is a little preachy and sometimes too dramatic), it brings forth some important themes well enough and with the support of good direction and strong performances, it's worth watching.