Looking back at this film from the perspective of the Trump administration we could use a little radicalism such as the men and women demonstrate in Salt Of The Earth.
Based on a real strike by Mexican-American workers of a zinc mine in New Mexico it was about the usual labor issues, but also a component of racism and sexism. The Mexicans are given lower wages by the owners for being Mexican, rather baldfaced discrimination to say the least. But the sexism comes from the strikers themselves who believe firmly that woman's place is in the home.
Needless to say the women sacrifice much, but they prove indispensable to the movement. In fact the message is that oppressed folks of all kinds have to unite to cast off the oppression.
Well with that kind of message you know the mastodons that ran all kinds of agencies concerned with security got all hot and bothered. Of course having blacklisted people like Will Geer in the cast certainly drew everyone's attention. Geer is the only name in the cast that most American viewers will recognize.
The non-professionals the actual miners playing themselves should be given a lot of credit wanting to bring their own story to our attention. I noted one anachronism though, mention of the Taft- Hartley Act is made and not favorably. For about 20 years Democrats faithfully included it in their platform, a repeal of the law. But both organized labor and the Democratic party eventually learned to live with it.
Being an independent film with no studio backing at all it sure lacks a lot of production values. But it's heart is big as all outdoors and its place in history is secure.
And this review is dedicated to the men and women of local 890 of the mine workers union who fought the good fight.
Based on a real strike by Mexican-American workers of a zinc mine in New Mexico it was about the usual labor issues, but also a component of racism and sexism. The Mexicans are given lower wages by the owners for being Mexican, rather baldfaced discrimination to say the least. But the sexism comes from the strikers themselves who believe firmly that woman's place is in the home.
Needless to say the women sacrifice much, but they prove indispensable to the movement. In fact the message is that oppressed folks of all kinds have to unite to cast off the oppression.
Well with that kind of message you know the mastodons that ran all kinds of agencies concerned with security got all hot and bothered. Of course having blacklisted people like Will Geer in the cast certainly drew everyone's attention. Geer is the only name in the cast that most American viewers will recognize.
The non-professionals the actual miners playing themselves should be given a lot of credit wanting to bring their own story to our attention. I noted one anachronism though, mention of the Taft- Hartley Act is made and not favorably. For about 20 years Democrats faithfully included it in their platform, a repeal of the law. But both organized labor and the Democratic party eventually learned to live with it.
Being an independent film with no studio backing at all it sure lacks a lot of production values. But it's heart is big as all outdoors and its place in history is secure.
And this review is dedicated to the men and women of local 890 of the mine workers union who fought the good fight.