Where there's a Will, there's a way

Liberty Brew & View will show a political film the third Tuesday of every month on the big movie screen at Capital City Bar & Grill. I've written about the first movie coming up this Tuesday, September 18, and the second will be "Who Killed the Electric Car?" on October 16.

I'd like to show one about labor unions in November so I created a poll for people to vote on the film you'd like to see. I put together a list of some of my favorites that are entertaining and probably haven't been seen by too many people before. I didn't include some movies like Norma Rae or Hoffa because those had major releases in theaters and can be found at any video store. But, I'll add a movie to the list if several people suggest the same one in the comments.

Or, leave a comment if you want to lobby for your favorite I've included in the poll. Also, I'm considering making it a double feature so let me know what you think.

Here's a list of the potential movies for November. You can vote in the poll on the right sidebar.

Harlan County, U.S.A.
Winner of the 1977 Academy Award for Best Documentary, this is the story of the 1973 coal miners strike in Harlan County Kentucky. It's one of the most powerful and compelling movies I've seen, documentary or otherwise.

Bread & Roses
There are many movies about the historical struggles of the labor movement, but this is the best one I've seen with a modern setting. It tells the story of a Mexican illegal-immigrant working as a janitor in Los Angeles and the union organizing drive at her workplace. Part of the plot involves a romance between a worker and an organizer for the union. I was an organizer for SEIU when this was released and while the head organizers encouraged us all to see the film they warned that worker-organizer dating was a big no-no. Anyway, I enjoyed the movie and so did Roger Ebert. Stars include Pilar Padilla, Adrien Brody, and George Lopez.

Salt of the Earth
This famous blacklisted film from 1954 deals with a strike by zinc miners in New Mexico and in the process tackles issues of racial prejudice and feminism. Some of the actors were participants in the actual strike.

Matewan
This 1987 Oscar nominated drama is based on a violent West Virginia coal war in the early 1920's. I sometimes wish the director had made a movie about the aftermath of the events that ended up being one of the largest armed rebellions in American history. Its still a labor classic starring James Earl Jones and Chris Cooper.

Modern Times
My favorite Charlie Chaplin movie. I don't expect this one to win the vote but maybe people will surprise me.