Release Date: February 21, 2006

Based on a true story, North Country, focuses on sexual harassment in the workplace before there were laws protecting employees against misconduct. The film directed by Niki Caro (Whale Rider) unfortunately was released earlier in the year before the typical year-end Oscar release period and made just a quiet splash among viewers when it came out. But the film is once again receiving its share of well deserved attention now that its actresses are being nominated for leading and supporting Oscar nominations.

The Film
For those who might not know where exactly the title of this film is referencing, North Country is a remote area of Minnesota, where its residents depend upon industrial labor like mining. During the early '80s, despite equal rights, mining was considered men's work and the women at the mine trying to support their families endured relentless harassment not only for being women but for taking the jobs that the town felt men could be having. The tension and constant harrowing harassment at Pearson's mine led to Josey Aimes filing the first ever class action sexual harassment lawsuit in American history.

Charlize Theron plays Josey, a young divorced mother of two and victim of marital abuse. After a particular attack she takes her kids and returns home to North Country, temporarily staying with her estranged mother (Sissy Spacek) and mining father (Richard Jenkins), both of whom have their own prejudices towards their daughter but later stand by her side despite town pressure. Wanting to support her children without living at home, it is suggested by Josey's friend Glory (Frances McDormand) that she work up in the mine with her and Josey's dad in order to be able to earn male wages. After some reluctance she agrees to work at the mine and is at first delighted to see that she can now afford to own her own home. However, she soon finds it might not be worth the price when she is continually taunted and abused every day while going to work. Her male coworkers spread feces in the locker room, put dildos in their lunchboxes, touch their bodies and write lewd cartoons on the walls, just to name a few of their actions. Woody Harrelson also stars as the lawyer taking on this case.