NORTH COUNTRY

US, 2005, 126 minutes, Colour.
Charlize Theron, Frances Mc Dormand, Sean Bean, Woody Harrelson, Sissy Spacek, Michelle Monahan, Earl Patterson, Thomas Curtis, Jeremy Renner, Richard Jenkins.
Directed by Niki Caro.

A very impressive and moving film. Interesting to note that the US Bishops Conference reviewer listed it in the top ten films of 2006. Sad to say, the film was not well received at the box-office there. Perhaps its truths were too hard-hitting. It is to be hoped that it will succeed more in other countries.

The church’s social teaching always puts its initial accent on the dignity of the human person. This is the first principle in the Vatican’s recently published Compendium of Social Teaching. One of the key contemporary elements in this teaching is respect for woman, given the history of domestic and sexual abuse as well as harassment in the workplace. These are the themes of North Country.

The screenplay is written by a man, Michael Seitzman, but the film has been directed powerfully and perceptively by a woman, New Zealander, Niki Caro. Her previous film, Whale Rider, about a young Maori girl is worth seeking out for those who have not seen it. North Country also boasts an impressive cast of women, including three Oscar winners, Charlize Theron as Josie, the strong woman who confronts her boorish macho co-workers, Frances Mc Dormand as her friend and union representative, and Sissy Spacek as her mother. There are also fine performances by the men: Woody Harrelson as a lawyer, Sean Bean as a sensitive former miner and Richard Jenkins as Theron’s non-comprehending father.

The narrative here is based on actual events in the state of Minnesota in the 1980s. The epilogue notes that while the women received modest compensation for their treatment at the iron mine, the verdict in their favour led to reforms worldwide in legislation about the employment of women and their conditions.

Not that the film is simply a moralising look at an abusive situation. While it does have a documentary feel with detailed vistas of the rugged landscapes and close-up sequences of work in the mine, it is still a story that audiences can identify with – and has characters that really stir all kinds of emotions.

Josie is a single mother with two children who leaves her brutal husband, returns home and finds a tough job, cleaning, driving, doing repairs in the huge local mine. The men resent the woman’s presence and make life difficult by insults, crass innuendo and more obvious advances, and the crudest of treatment. Management, forced by law to employ women, do nothing to better the situations. When it becomes too much, Josie takes action. The other women don’t want to lose their jobs and are afraid. Her father sides with the men. Management act deviously.

What makes the film so affecting is Josie’s background story, her son’s resentment at the mystery of his father’s identity (which proves a pivotal plot development during the court case), her mother’s quiet care, her father’s almost disowning her, her union friend’s kindness as well as her suffering a debilitating disease. There is no lack of plot.

For those of us who have comfortable lives, this is a necessary immersion in a tough and harsh world where ordinary people try to manage, often without training and skills that will help them manage. Their workplace and treatment often belittles them but they have no way out if they want to earn enough to support their families. This has repercussions, of course, on family tensions, straining of relationships which will lead to damaging consequences.

Josie may have little education and, it is revealed, is more of a victim than we at first realise. But, she takes a stand and appeals for solidarity. There is a strong scene towards the end when she goes to a union meeting where the men jeer and the women are silent. She speaks but, more powerfully and emotionally, her father speaks in support of her. That prepares us for the courts where she will prevail.

1.The film’s acclaim, awards? Dramatic impact? Social conscience?

2.As based on a true story, adapted for the screen? The information at the end about the women, the success of their class action, repercussions for worldwide legislation?

3.The director, her female sensibilities, the cast, a strong women’s film in the best sense?

4.The Minnesota landscapes, the use of Panavision, aerial shots, the snow and the hills, the bleak seasons? The close-ups of the factory, interiors and exteriors? The vast expanses of the north country? The musical score?

5.The 1980s, the atmosphere of the times, the workplace, jobs and loss of jobs, factories and mines, economic difficulties, management and opportunities, legislation about equal employment?

6.The court sequences in the introduction, interspersed throughout the film? Josie, the attacks by the lawyer? The prosecutor and her innuendo? The issues?

7.The flashbacks, Josie’s life, teenage girl, at school, flirting with boys, the relationship with Bobby, sexuality and her attitudes? The detention, the teacher, his smooth words, the viciousness of the rape? Bobby watching, running away, unable to do anything? The repercussions for Josie? Bobby being haunted by what he did not do?

8.The opening and Josie battered, with the children, leaving the house, driving away, Sam and his criticism, his hatred of his mother? Karen and her being young? The later visit by the father and Josie’s rejection of him? The effect on the kids, the move, the new house, with Glory, at home, the meals, renting the house, Sam and his dislike? School, his repeating the attacks on his mother, calling her a whore? The children’s relationship with their grandparents? Sam’s anger, Kyle and his kindness, Sammy despising him, his work with the watches? Kyle giving Sammy the gift of the watch? The talk with Kyle, Kyle making him realise what had happened, his finally talking with his mother? A future?

9.Josie and her parents, her mother’s kindness, hearing the gossip at the social function, ignoring it? At home, welcoming Josie and the children? Her father and his dislike of her, the memories of the past, reputation, rejecting her? The work at the mine, his anger at her? At the socials, the dance? The father and his work at the mine, the building up of the case, his treatment of his daughter? Alice leaving and going to the motel? Sitting lonely? His reaction, going to get her? His going to the meeting, listening to Josie’s speech, rising to defend her, talking about being ashamed? Her response to his change of heart? In the court, learning about the teacher and the rape, his anger? His change?

10.Josie at work, the initial interview, the other women, meeting Glory and the bond with her, friendship with Kyle? Their welcoming her and the children to the house? Glory’s advice, work and learning? The men and their reaction to the women, experiencing the talk, the disgusting actions, the jokes, the abuse? Going to the foreman and his not really listening to complaints? Meeting the manager in the restaurant with her children, his promise to listen? Bobby and his advances? Earl and his roughness? Bobby inviting her to clean, walking and looking over the expanse from the height, his assault on her? His lies and the accusation by his wife? The effect on Josie?

11.Her decision about going to the management, to court? Glory not supporting her? The other women and their not wanting to lose their jobs? Her driving to Minneapolis, the meeting with the boss, the foreman present, the double-talk, the group stacked in prejudice against her?

12.The hockey sequences, Sam and his love for the game, his later withdrawing from the team? Glory introducing Bill? Bill’s story, career as a hockey player, injury, the law, the failed marriage, the return from New York? His friendliness with Josie? Her going to him about the court case, his deciding not to take it? The autographs sequence? His change of attitude, his work for Josie, the achievement possible for him? His wanting to help the women? His work in the court case?

13.Glory, pioneering women’s role in the mind, the union representative, going to the meetings? Driving the trucks? At home with Kyle, welcoming Josie, giving her advice? Her support of the other women? Her illness, wanting to keep it quiet? Josie’s visits, the debilitating disease, Kyle at home and his constant helping her? Her not being in the court? Her going to the union meeting and their rejecting her? Her going to the assembly, her support of Josie, the influence on the other women?

14.Sherry, flirtatious? Coming up to Bill? His not following through? The object of abuse? Big Betty and the other women? Peg? Strong women, their work, trying to keep their jobs? The pressure on them? Their lies? In court, testimony, the changing of their attitudes? Sherry and the abuse of her in the portable toilet, the disgrace and the humiliation?

15.Kyle, a good man, the experience in the mine, love for Glory, care for her, wise in his treatment of Sam?

16.The range of men, their characters, the good and the bad, the reality of their needing their jobs, the years of loss, the macho attitudes, the crudity of language, the sexual innuendo, explicit sexual advances, the excremental abuse? The bosses? In court? Management, the discussions with the prosecuting lawyer? Her warning about the consequences?

17.The key meeting, Josie and her decision to go, Bill’s support? Her speech, the regulations, the chairman trying to stop her? The men’s abuse? Her father, his response, the speech, some of the men applauding? The consequences for the court case?

18.The court case, the strong attitude of the prosecutor, their employing a woman? The bosses in the court? The realisation that they had lost?

19.An intellectual film in terms of a study of social conditions, the workplace, human rights, dignity? The emotional impact reinforcing the understanding of the issues?