History of the struggle on film: Salt of the Earth

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.examiner.com/x-2071-DC-Special-Interests-Examiner~y2009m2d1-History-of-the-struggle-on-film-Salt-of-the-Earth?cid=exrss-DC-Special-Interests-Examiner



Salt of the Earth is based on the 1951 strike against the Empire Zinc Mine in New Mexico involving Mexican-American workers, who struck to attain wage parity with Anglo workers in other mines and to be treated with dignity by the bosses. The wives of the miners play a pivotal role in the strike since an injunction prohibited miners from picketing, although with some resistance from their husbands. Salt of the Earth provides a moving example of community solidarity and the treatment of women in traditional families. This film was written, directed and produced by members of the original "Hollywood Ten," who were blacklisted for refusing to answer Congressional inquiries on First Amendment grounds.
The movie inspired an opera “Esperanza” which premiered in 2000 in Madison, Wisconsin.

Clip from Salt of the Earth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vrXip24RZU&eurl=http://www.examiner.com/x-2071-DC-Special-Interests-Examiner~y2009m2d1-History-of-the-struggle-on-film-Salt-of-the-Earth?c

[htuttle]

1. Great Film!

Saw it years ago. I should watch it again.

I just added it to the long list of DVD's I'm going to send to my daughter one of these holidays. I'm about halfway through a list of 30 -- I'll have to figure out what it would play well with in a triple feature... (just met her a few years ago, btw -- much like yourself, if I remember correctly...hope that's going well! :hi: ).

[Omaha Steve]

2. Labor films to go with Salt of the Earth

Norma Rae, Bread and Roses, Matewan, Harlan County War,...