Matewan (1987)

A little-known chapter of American labor history is brought vividly to life in this period drama from writer-director John Sayles. It's a fictional story about labor wars among West Virginia coal miners during the 1920's, but every detail is so right that the film has the unmistakable ring of truth. The tension begins when the Stone Mountain Coal Company of Matewan, West Virginia, announces a lower pay rate for miners, who respond by calling a strike under the leadership of a United Mine Workers representative (Chris Cooper). Proving strength in numbers, the miners are joined by black and Italian miners who initially resist the strike, and a fateful battle ensues when detectives hired by the coal company attempt to evict miners from company housing. Violence erupts in a sequence of astonishing, cathartic intensity, and Matewan achieves a rare degree of moral complexity combined with gut-wrenching tragedy. The film salutes a pacifist ideal while recognizing that personal and political convictions often must be defended with violence. To illustrate this point, Sayles enlisted master cinematographer Haskell Wexler, who creates the film's authentic visual texture--a triumph of artistry over limited resources. The result is a milestone of independent filmmaking, and Matewan remains one of Sayles's finest achievements. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com essential video

The Matewan Massacre is in here somewhere . . .

This is a great movie. That being said, the events it is alleged to portray are only a small part of THIS film. There's a story being told by Mr. Sayles about the conditions in which the miners and their families lived, what their prospects for improvement were, the efforts to unionize the coal fields, and the efforts to thwart the unionization of the same, but beware that you understand that Mr. Sayles was telling a story that only refers to what happened in Matewan and Bloody Mingo in 1920-1921. This is not a documentary nor does Mr. Sayles intend for it to be. His vision of the story is certainly true, but not historically accurate. It is one of those films that makes you think about the message, but be sure you understand that Sayles has a message and you may or may not agree with it. As a piece of drama, it is first-rate. As an account of a series of historical events, it takes great liberty with the details to make a point. June 21, 2008

Incredible movie.

My mom's family is actually from McDowell County W. Va. and still live there, which is just to the east of Mingo County. The performances are right on with the Appalachian population that lives there. My grandfather died in the W. Va. coal mines in the early 60's, so this film is especially relevant for me. This is a fantastic movie in every sense of film. It is a throw-back to film-making that focuses on acting, directing, and screenplay. It is edge-of-your-seat thrilling...unless, of course, you have to have bombs, explosions, and special effects with very little intelligent dialogue or acting. If that's what you're looking for, you won't find it here. If you're looking for a truly authentic film with rich acting and brilliant story-telling, then this is a film you can truly revel in. June 21, 2008

HIGH NOON FOR JOE HILL

MATEWAN is set in a small West Virginia coal mining town of the same name, where in May of 1920 an armed conflict between striking miners and thugs sent in by the Baldwin-Felts organization to break the union resulted in what known as the Coalfield Wars, the biggest insurrection in America outside the Civil War. On the union's side were both the town's mayor, Cabal Testerman (who was shot and killed in the battle even though he was unarmed) and the sheriff, Sid Hatfield, who survived this fight only to gunned down on the steps on the county courthouse some time later These men and what happened to them are real. To this mix writer and director John Sayles has added a composite creation to represent the union organizers who were also present that day. His man is Joe Kenehan (played by one of his regulars, Chris Cooper), a man of principal and compassion, dedicated to easing the life of the working man. Kenehan is a combination of all the organizers who would have flourished under the
abyssmal conditions of the mines and factories of this period; Wobblies, socialists, communists, and "non-affiliated guys who just got involved." People who never would have given unionizing a second thought if it hadn't been for the overwhelming greed and callousness of the mine owners and giants of industry at that time.

We are given a glimpse of how profound their greed really is when a new group of scabs is brought in. One of the ways that organizing was kept to a minimum was by insuring that miners wouldn't speak to each other. This was accomplished by bringing in foreigners who simply didn't speak any English at all (in this instance some Italians were brought in) or by playing on people's innate racial hatreds, the remainder of the group was composed of blacks. Once new miners were hired on they were forced to rent their work clothes and equipment from the company store as well as pay for their housing and food all at exorbitant fees. In fact everything they needed could only be purchased through the company and prices were so high that it was guarranteed that they would never be able to pay back the inital outlay of monies they were fronted so that they could START to work! It was the original vicious circle.

MATEWAN is one of Sayles earliest films, but it is also one of his best. It full of powerful imagery and quiet truths that will stay with you long after it has told you its story, a story you have never heard before.

Sayles is a true auteur. He wrote, directed, and edited this film. He even has a bit part in the film as a fire and brimstone preacher who is another tool of the company. But Sayles' real gift is that of the storyteller. From this review you might percieve this film to be a bunch of boring left-wing moralizing, but Sayles will entertain you and keep you interested in these people and their lives. As I said, that is his greatest gift.

For those of you who are interest in such things, Will Oldham (who plays a young man who also does some preaching) has some musical fame: Palace, Palace Brothers, Bonnie Prince Billie, etc,


March 2, 2008

West Virginia's Roots In All Its Glory

This movie is a great one. Why? It brings West Virginia's history to life. West Virginia is an odd mix of people who come from very different backgrounds. You see how this was played out in the Mountain state's early days. You also see how these people were exploited by the larger corporate interests. This is part of the reason why the state is a union state. All in all, this movie does a good job of telling a true story in an enjoyable way. February 25, 2008

Matewan

Good history movie of the early years of coal mining and the way the people were owned by the mining companies. Also the bloody way they fought the early union organizers, who were trying to get some respect and benefits for the workers and their families! October 17, 2007

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