A story worth telling
PARTYHARD AT THE MOVIES
Geoff Arbuckle
Issue date: 2/7/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Imagine Charlize Theron unattractive, covered in dirt and dust, beaten and battered fighting for what she knows is right.
Perhaps she appeals to a lesser crowd in such a state and sends some boys home crying, but there lies her true beauty.
"North Country" (2005) tells the fictionalized story of the first major sexual harassmant case in the United States.
In 1974, affirmative action was used when the U.S. government forced steel companies to provide 20 percent of their jobs to women and minorities.
A woman by the name of Lois Jenson was hired by the Eveleth mines in northern Minnesota.
Theron plays Jenson's character who experiences a troubled childhood, worse adolescent life, and immediately faces harrasment from multiple fronts at her new job.
The film's graphic and disturbing nature at times may bother some but ceases to amaze.
Frances McDormand (Almost Famous) takes Theron in with her two kids and serves as a source of strength for her. McDormand's role earned her a best supporting actress nomination in 2006.
This depressing tale opens the viewers eyes to the harsh and real times woman faced, both then and now.
Many powerful and cruel scenes grip the audiences' emotions and throw them around like a rag doll. One moment tears can burst out or at another a little chuckle.
The stories embedded into the film all mesh together to provide for a well made reel.
Richard Jenkins (I Heart Huckabees) plays Theron's unaccepting father who believes his daughter shouldn't work at the mine with him.
Despite beliefs, a loving father stands up for his daughter especially in times of need.
The women of the Eveleth mines faced harrasment on a daily basis from their male co-workers.
Feces are smeared on the walls of their locker rooms, semen is left all over their clothes and little suprises find themselves in their lunches.
Perhaps more disturbing to somes viewers; all of it depicts reality.
Theron's role deserves recognition. The acedemy recognized her in 2006 by nominating her for best actress.
Unfortunatley, that same year America's "cutie pie" Reese Witherspoon walked the line and took the gold.
With the help from McDormand, Jenkins and others, the cast fit into their roles with ease and at no point overpowered the plot or story.
No single role stood out above the rest; but merely a combined effort that provided one of the film's strong points.
Director Niki Caro hit the map with this film. Her only other notable film some may have heard of, "Whale Rider," attracted few.
Caro deserves all the praise for this film. Her ability to show the issue as well as convince the audience of it's realism and grotesqueness only proves her ability to persuade us with film.
There in lies the purpose of film.
Had a man directed the same film, justice may not have been served.
Sexual harrasment, touchy to some, many times remains untouched.
On this occasion in northern Minnesota, one woman took a chance, refused to stay quiet and stood up for what she believed.
Despite the abuse, the rejection and the hatred she fought through it all for something so simple; equality in the workplace.
Caro found the perfect story, put it on film, and let the world know the power one can have despite adversity.
RATING: 3/5 KERNALS
Perhaps she appeals to a lesser crowd in such a state and sends some boys home crying, but there lies her true beauty.
"North Country" (2005) tells the fictionalized story of the first major sexual harassmant case in the United States.
In 1974, affirmative action was used when the U.S. government forced steel companies to provide 20 percent of their jobs to women and minorities.
A woman by the name of Lois Jenson was hired by the Eveleth mines in northern Minnesota.
Theron plays Jenson's character who experiences a troubled childhood, worse adolescent life, and immediately faces harrasment from multiple fronts at her new job.
The film's graphic and disturbing nature at times may bother some but ceases to amaze.
Frances McDormand (Almost Famous) takes Theron in with her two kids and serves as a source of strength for her. McDormand's role earned her a best supporting actress nomination in 2006.
This depressing tale opens the viewers eyes to the harsh and real times woman faced, both then and now.
Many powerful and cruel scenes grip the audiences' emotions and throw them around like a rag doll. One moment tears can burst out or at another a little chuckle.
The stories embedded into the film all mesh together to provide for a well made reel.
Richard Jenkins (I Heart Huckabees) plays Theron's unaccepting father who believes his daughter shouldn't work at the mine with him.
Despite beliefs, a loving father stands up for his daughter especially in times of need.
The women of the Eveleth mines faced harrasment on a daily basis from their male co-workers.
Feces are smeared on the walls of their locker rooms, semen is left all over their clothes and little suprises find themselves in their lunches.
Perhaps more disturbing to somes viewers; all of it depicts reality.
Theron's role deserves recognition. The acedemy recognized her in 2006 by nominating her for best actress.
Unfortunatley, that same year America's "cutie pie" Reese Witherspoon walked the line and took the gold.
With the help from McDormand, Jenkins and others, the cast fit into their roles with ease and at no point overpowered the plot or story.
No single role stood out above the rest; but merely a combined effort that provided one of the film's strong points.
Director Niki Caro hit the map with this film. Her only other notable film some may have heard of, "Whale Rider," attracted few.
Caro deserves all the praise for this film. Her ability to show the issue as well as convince the audience of it's realism and grotesqueness only proves her ability to persuade us with film.
There in lies the purpose of film.
Had a man directed the same film, justice may not have been served.
Sexual harrasment, touchy to some, many times remains untouched.
On this occasion in northern Minnesota, one woman took a chance, refused to stay quiet and stood up for what she believed.
Despite the abuse, the rejection and the hatred she fought through it all for something so simple; equality in the workplace.
Caro found the perfect story, put it on film, and let the world know the power one can have despite adversity.
RATING: 3/5 KERNALS
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