Official Movie Website Theatrical Release 10/21/05 Home Video 02/21/06 MPAA Rating Rated R for sequences involving sexual harassment including violence and dialogue, and for language Running Time 2 hours 6 minutes Genre Drama Director Niki Caro Cast Charlize Theron, Frances McDormand, Jeremy Renner, Brad Henke, Sissy Spacek, Woody Harrelson, Sean Bean, Michelle Monaghan, Richard Jenkins Studio Warner Bros |
NORTH COUNTRY
SYNOPSIS
When Josey Aimes (Academy Award winner CHARLIZE
THERON) returns to her hometown in Northern
Minnesota after a failed marriage, she needs a good
job. A single mother with two children to support, she
turns to the predominant source of employment in the
region - the iron mines.
The mines provide a livelihood that has sustained a
community for generations. The work is hard but the
pay is good and friendships that form on the job extend
into everyday life, bonding families and neighborhoods
with a common thread. It's an industry long dominated
by men, in a place unaccustomed to change.
Encouraged by her old friend Glory (Academy Award
winner FRANCES McDORMAND), one of the few female
miners in town, Josey joins the ranks of those laboring
to blast ore from rock in the gaping quarries. She is
prepared for the back-breaking and often dangerous
work, but coping with the harassment she and the
other female miners encounter from their male
coworkers proves far more challenging.
When Josey Aimes (Academy Award winner CHARLIZE
THERON) returns to her hometown in Northern
Minnesota after a failed marriage, she needs a good
job. A single mother with two children to support, she
turns to the predominant source of employment in the
region - the iron mines.
The mines provide a livelihood that has sustained a
community for generations. The work is hard but the
pay is good and friendships that form on the job extend
into everyday life, bonding families and neighborhoods
with a common thread. It's an industry long dominated
by men, in a place unaccustomed to change.
Encouraged by her old friend Glory (Academy Award
winner FRANCES McDORMAND), one of the few female
miners in town, Josey joins the ranks of those laboring
to blast ore from rock in the gaping quarries. She is
prepared for the back-breaking and often dangerous
work, but coping with the harassment she and the
other female miners encounter from their male
coworkers proves far more challenging.
Times are tough. The last thing the miners want is women competing for scarce jobs - women who, in
their estimation, have no business driving trucks and hauling rock anyway. If these newcomers want to
work the mines they'll have to do it on the terms set by the veteran workforce and it won't be easy. Take
it or leave it.
When Josey speaks out against the treatment she and her fellow workers face she is met with
resistance - not only from those in power but from a community that doesn't want to hear the truth, her
disapproving parents and many of her own colleagues who fear she is only making things worse. In time,
even her friendship with Glory will be tested, her already difficult connection with her father, a lifelong
miner, will be pushed to its limit and elements of her personal life exposed to scrutiny. The fallout from
Josey's battle to make a better future for herself and her children will affect every aspect of her life,
including her relationship with her young daughter and her sensitive teenage son, who must first cope
with the embarrassment of his mother's sudden notoriety and then face harsh details of her past she
was hoping he would never have to know.
Through these struggles Josey will find the courage to stand up for what she believes in - even if that
means standing alone.
Inspired by a true story, North Country follows Josey's journey on a road that will take her farther than
she ever imagined, ultimately inspiring countless others, and leading to the nation's first-ever class-
action lawsuit for sexual harassment.--© Warner Bros.
their estimation, have no business driving trucks and hauling rock anyway. If these newcomers want to
work the mines they'll have to do it on the terms set by the veteran workforce and it won't be easy. Take
it or leave it.
When Josey speaks out against the treatment she and her fellow workers face she is met with
resistance - not only from those in power but from a community that doesn't want to hear the truth, her
disapproving parents and many of her own colleagues who fear she is only making things worse. In time,
even her friendship with Glory will be tested, her already difficult connection with her father, a lifelong
miner, will be pushed to its limit and elements of her personal life exposed to scrutiny. The fallout from
Josey's battle to make a better future for herself and her children will affect every aspect of her life,
including her relationship with her young daughter and her sensitive teenage son, who must first cope
with the embarrassment of his mother's sudden notoriety and then face harsh details of her past she
was hoping he would never have to know.
Through these struggles Josey will find the courage to stand up for what she believes in - even if that
means standing alone.
Inspired by a true story, North Country follows Josey's journey on a road that will take her farther than
she ever imagined, ultimately inspiring countless others, and leading to the nation's first-ever class-
action lawsuit for sexual harassment.--© Warner Bros.
BRENDA
The Oscar race has begun with three Best Actress winners (Theron, Spacek, and McDormand)
starring in North Country. Josey Aimes (Charlene Theron) has left her abusive husband and has taken
her two children and moved home to Minnesota to live with her parents. Hank Aimes (Richard Jenkins)
has not forgiven his daughter for getting pregnant while in high school. Josey runs into Glory (Frances
McDormand) and she tell Josey about the jobs at the iron mine, where the owners have reluctantly
begun hiring women. The women must endure sexual items hidden in their lunchboxes and lockers,
crude jokes, and being groped. When the groping turns into physical assault, Josey takes the mining
company to court. Theron, McDormand, and Jenkins give award winning performances in North
Country.
The Oscar race has begun with three Best Actress winners (Theron, Spacek, and McDormand)
starring in North Country. Josey Aimes (Charlene Theron) has left her abusive husband and has taken
her two children and moved home to Minnesota to live with her parents. Hank Aimes (Richard Jenkins)
has not forgiven his daughter for getting pregnant while in high school. Josey runs into Glory (Frances
McDormand) and she tell Josey about the jobs at the iron mine, where the owners have reluctantly
begun hiring women. The women must endure sexual items hidden in their lunchboxes and lockers,
crude jokes, and being groped. When the groping turns into physical assault, Josey takes the mining
company to court. Theron, McDormand, and Jenkins give award winning performances in North
Country.
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
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