North Country (2005)___9/10
Upper US mining country morality play

Directed by Niki Caro
Charlize Theron …. Josey Aimes
Frances McDormand …. Glory
Sean Bean …. Kyle
Woody Harrelson …. Bill White
Richard Jenkins …. Hank Aimes
Sissy Spacek …. Alice Aimes
Michelle Monaghan …. Sherry

If you’ve ever been tempted to dismiss remedies for sexual harassment as just one more instance of unnecessary government intrusion, you need to see this flick.  It’s based on the story of, Lois Jenson, who worked in the Eveleth Taconite Company in Eveleth, Minnesota, from 1975 to 1992.

In 1984 she began legal actions to protest the abusive treatment and stalking she and other women employees were continually subjected to by men at the plant.  In 1991 her actions culminated in a class action suit against the company, the first sexual harassment liability suit in American history.

After the original verdict that the company owed damages, a special judge was appointed to oversee a trial to determine these damages.  In 1995, he awarded the 15 women plaintiffs an average of $10,000 each, which was appealed, then reversed by a higher court, which ordered a new jury trial. Continue reading →