Matewan

The West Virginia Coal War and the associated Matewan Massacre lie at the heart of this gritty social drama about the early days of the US labor movement. In the early 1920s, ruthless mine owners exploit miners whose living and working conditions are steadily deteriorating. When Joe Kenehan, a key figure among the miners, calls for a strike, the owners hire armed forces to keep coal production going. This leads to an escalation and conflicts resembling civil war. It is a nearly forgotten chapter of US history that was brought to the attention of a wider audience through this film. Grippingly directed, superbly acted, and nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography.
(Raimund Fritz)