[Vision2020] "Salt of the Earth" (Docudrama, 1955)

[Moscow Cares]

And yet another video for "Food For Thought (and stuff)" . . .

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"Salt of the Earth" (Docudrama, 1955)

"Salt of the Earth" tells the tale of a real life strike by
Mexican-American miners. The story is set in a remote New Mexico town
where the workers live in a company town in company owned shacks without
basic plumbing. Put at risk by cost cutting bosses, the miners strike for
safe working conditions. As the strike progresses the issues at stake grow
beyond that, driven by the workers' wives. At first the wives are
patronized by the traditional patriarchical culture, however they assert
themselves as equals and an integral part of the struggle, calling for
improved sanitation and dignified treatment. Ultimately, when the bosses
win a court order against the workers preventing them from demonstrating
gender roles reverse with the wives taking over the picket line and
preventing scab workers from being brought in while the husbands stay at
home and take care of house and children.

This film was selected for the National Film Registry in 1992 by the
Library of Congress. It became public domain after its copyright was not
renewed in 1982.

"Salt of the Earth" was produced, written and directed by victims of the
Hollywood blacklist. Unable to make films in Hollywood they looked for
worthy social issues to put on screen independently. This film never would
have been made in Hollywood at the time, so it is ironic that it was the
anti-communist backlash that brought about the conditions for it to be
made. In many ways it was a film ahead of its time, mainstream culture did
not pick up on its civil rights and feminist themes for at least a decade.

http://www.MoscowCares.com/Videos/SaltOfTheEarth_1955.htm

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This video, and other "Food For Thought (and stuff)" may be accessed,
viewed, and downloaded at . . .

"Food For Thought (and stuff)"
http://www.MoscowCares.com/Videos/FoodForThought.htm

Stay tuned, V-peeps.

Seeya round town, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares"
http://www.MoscowCares.com

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho