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ChicagoRonin

(676 posts) Fri Jul 26, 2024, 10:12 AM Jul 26

"Matewan" (1987) - Good historical drama set in rural Appalachia

Since there is all this talk about JD Vance's fake rural credentials and the exploitative dishonesty of his book Hillbilly Elegy (and the film version), here's an actual good movie dealing with issues of rural poverty in Applachia. A dramatization of the labor conflicts and violence between coal miners and owners in Matewan, WV in 1920.

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"Matewan" (1987) - Good historical drama set in rural Appalachia (Original Post) ChicagoRonin Jul 26 OP

And beginning of "Coal Miner's Daughter" (1980) no_hypocrisy Jul 26 #1

Harlan County USA (full movie) ret5hd Jul 26 #2

Highly recommended EYESORE 9001 Jul 26 #3

Matewan is a must see. Tough to take at times but just imagine those who actually lived thru it Deuxcents Jul 26 #4

Agree. Matewan is an awesome film. I need to go watch that one again. japple Jul 26 #5

My mom's family is from West Virginia ScratchCat Jul 26 #6

no_hypocrisy

(47,934 posts)

1. And beginning of "Coal Miner's Daughter" (1980)

Reply to ChicagoRonin (Original post)

Fri Jul 26, 2024, 10:19 AM

Jul 26

ret5hd

(21,060 posts)

2. Harlan County USA (full movie)

Reply to ChicagoRonin (Original post)

Fri Jul 26, 2024, 10:26 AM

Jul 26

1974 documentary.
The film crew started with the goal of documenting the internal politics of the union…but then the strike started. Damn…this gets harsh at times. Heros. Cowards. The regular working man just wanting to live.

on edit: go to an hour and 9 minutes in the film. the miners had been threatened/shot at the day/night before, and aren’t going to take it anymore.