North Country (2005)

Starring Charlize Thereon, Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Richard Jenkins, Sissy Spacek. Drama. Synopsis: A story set in the Iron Range of Minnesota and based loosely on the first successful class action sexual harrassment lawsuit. A fictionalized account of the lives and circumstances surrounding female mine workers in the Iron Range of Minnesota, the setting for the first successful class action law suit alleging sexual harrassment in the workplace.  

North Country is set against the drab, economically depressed backdrop of the "Iron Range" of Minnesota, and tells the story of a single mother (Charlize Thereon Monster Hancock) who, looking to brighten her economic prospects after leaving her abusive husband, takes a higher paying job in a mine during a time when such jobs are hard to come by and they are offered to women only because they have to be.

Needless to say, Charlize's presence, and that of the other few females working in the mine, does not go over too well with most of her male coworkers and advisors. This includes her own father (Richard Jenkins), who sees his daughter's presence in the mine as shame on his family and, most importantly, shame on himself.

The story is told in flashback, in the opening scene we see Charlize on the witness stand in court, so we have a clear foreshadowing of where this is going, even if we aren't familiar with the true story. The film progresses with preriodic flashbacks to incidents in the mine and in Charlize's background. This includes the revelation of the true parentage of her oldest child, a son played wonderfully by Thomas Curtis.

The depiction of the abuse that the women endure while working is detailed, graphic, and probably shocking to some. The crude jokes, sexual innuendo, and vulgar double entendres are to be expected, as they probably exist in many working enviroments to this day, despite our "compassion" and "enlightenment". But, it goes much further than that in this movie as see the sex toys left in the lockers of the women, the groping, and a disturbing couple of scenes where Charlize's character is both physically and sexually assaulted.

As you would guess, Charlize is not willing to take this type of abuse and goes to her superiors, who, of course, are unsympathetic and ultimately decides to hire a lawyer (Woody Harrelson Seven Pounds). Of special mention to me is Frances McDormand, who plays the toughest, highest ranking female employee in the mine and befriends Charlize from the outset and is a Union rep. Her character is tough, witty, lovable, and pulls off the difficult feat of being the ultimate "tom boy", yet maintains her femininity. You can't help but like her, and the most emotional part of an emotional movie comes when we learn of her fight against a rare disease.

The film does a good job of giving solid depth to all the major elements of the story: Charlize's life at the mine; her relationship with her parents and children; and her dealing with her tragic past, an event that is ultimately, if unbelievably, revealed in the court room scenes near the end of the movie.

I had a major problem with the last portion of the film, however. Having substantial experience and education in the law, I've been in more than a few courtrooms and tried my share of legal cases. And, as I'm sure many people who see their profession depicted on screen often (doctors, police officers etc.)  might say, Hollywood rarely sets it forth with complete accuracy and realism. That's understandable. But this is so far over the top in terms of its total disregard for the most basic rules and procedure of law in the court room scene as well as reality of this actually happening, even if you did have a case where a judge knew less law than a sixth grader and the lawyers were either viper-like or effectively engaging in personal put downs of the witnesses.

Woody Harrelson, good and likable as always, can't get a high mark from me solely because of his role. He is the reluctant lawyer, of course, the only type that movies seem to portray these days. He is returning home from a (presumably failed) career as an attorney in (where else) New York City, and he takes the case only after first refusing to do so....well, you know the rest. And, of course, the other lawyers depicted in the film are, simply, disgusting. O.k., that vent off my chest, the courtroom scenes also end in the cheesy Hollywood manner of Woody making his speech to the world, asking rhetorically who will stand with Charlize, and, slowly but surely for dramatic effect, one by one almost everyone in the court room stands. C'mon.

I'm a believer that truth is almost always more interesting than fiction and, while I don't know anything about the actual case, I can assure anyone it did not unfold like this. Why would a film so dedicated to showing the reality of what sexual abuse can do to the victims and those close to them, have to finish such fine work with scenes so unrealistic as to be cartoonish?

However, although the ending was a downer to me, it doesn't make me forget how could the rest of the film was nor does it tarnish it too badly. This is an issue that is out there in our society, and will be dealt with, from many different angles, by this generation more than any other. North Country is not a masterpiece, just a very good film with flaws and some powerful actors. Frances McDormand is outstanding, Charlize Thereon is proving she might just be the best actress consistently working who is not named Meryl Streep, Sissy Spacek (Carrie) reminds us, once again, how good she is and makes us wish we could see her more, Woody is Woody, and the rest of the cast is very good. If you like movies that deal with serious issues from more than a one dimensional view, and you can overlook the last fifteen minutes, you'll like this flick.