“Northern Country” – a film about a woman fighting for dignity

For the first time in 2005, the psycho drama “Northern Country” directed by Nicky Caro, raised the issue of the fight against sexual harassment at the workplace that was so actual. The story is based on the story of a woman-miner, Louise Jenson, who sued her male colleagues working with her for sexual harassment in 1975, nearly half a century before the Hollywood-based scandal.

The character of the main heroine was embodied by the famous Hollywood actress Charlz Theron. In one of the interviews, Charles Theron, speaking of his role in the film “The Northern Country,” said: “People, hearing that the film is about a miner, think it’s boring. It’s funny for me. ”

The main heroine of the film, Joey Ames after divorce with her husband (her husband regularly beat her) immediately returns to her father’s home in northern Minnesota. Jose is trying to feed her children on her own, find a home and try to start a new life. However, it turns out that in order to fulfill those clear goals, she will have to pay an expensive price. Jose begins to work in the mine, where her father works. She is responsible for any hard work, but is not ready to tolerate sexual harassment by minion men. Jose is ready to defend her dignity and rights of her and friends, bringing a suit against their humiliating men. This case is the first precedent in the United States when the lawsuit against sexual harassment is met. During the trial, the company’s human rights activist tries to throw a “mud” in the direction of Jose’s past, claiming that her first child was born as a result of Josi’s and his teacher’s sexual relationship. Jose’s lawyer, in his turn, proves that Jose got pregnant as a result of rape. The main problem is that other women working in the mine are afraid to testify that they have been subjected to sexual harassment.

Interesting facts

• The prototype of Joe Ems is a woman named Louise Jenson, who started working in the mine since 1975, and the first suit filed only 13 years  later from the harassments.
• All the encroachments described in the film have actually taken place with different women.
• For more accurate embodiment of the role, Charlès Theroir spent some time in the families of women working in the mine.
• The film also featured Francis McDorman, who won this year’s Oscars for the main role in “The Three Billboards at the Border on Ebbing, Missouri”.

Full text in Armenian