135 mins |
Rated
PG-13
Directed by John Sayles
Starring Will Oldham, Ken Jenkins, Kevin Tighe, Chris Cooper, Mary McDonnell, David Strathairn
The Chelsea Theater, in partnership with UE150, proudly presents MAY DAYS: LABOR ON THE MOVE!, a four-film series spotlighting workers’ struggles, union organizing, and collective action across decades and industries. Screenings will take place throughout July, August, and culminate on Labor Day, with films selected to inspire reflection and conversation about labor past and present.
Each EVENING screening will be introduced by members of UE150, who will also host community discussions after the films to explore connections between on-screen stories and current labor efforts across North Carolina as well as the current state of labor movements. Attendees will have access to resources and information including action items and opportunities to get involved—because labor struggle is always on the move, and there’s a role for everyone.
Who Is UE150:
UE150, the North Carolina Public Service Workers Union, is a democratic, member-run union organizing workers across public sectors including sanitation, healthcare, education, and transportation. For decades, they’ve fought for living wages, safe conditions, and collective bargaining rights in a state that bars public sector union contracts.
Why May Day Matters:
May Day, or International Workers’ Day, honors the global legacy of worker resistance. Though more widely celebrated abroad, May Day’s roots are deeply American, tied to the 1886 Haymarket Riots in Chicago where the Haymarket Martyrs fought for important basic labor rights like the eight-hour workday. May Day serves as a powerful reminder that ordinary people have the power to organize and fight for their own liberation. The struggle against oppression, exploitation, environmental destruction, and war is ongoing and global as is the enduring struggle for workplace dignity, safety, and fairness.
Film Lineup and Showtimes:
MATEWAN (John Sayles, 1987, 135 min) – Monday, July 7 at 1:00 PM & 7:00 PM
NORMA RAE (Martin Ritt, 1979, 114 min) – Monday, August 4 at 1:00 PM & 7:00 PM
A BUG’S LIFE (John Lasseter, 1998, 95 min) – Saturday, August 16 at 11:00 AM
REDS (Warren Beatty, 1981, 195 min) – Monday, September 1 (Labor Day) at 1:00 PM & 7:00 PM
About the Films and Their Relevance Today:
MATEWAN dramatizes a 1920s coal miners’ strike in West Virginia, illustrating the power of showing broader solidarity and organizing across racial lines under brutal conditions—a story resonant with today’s battles against union-busting in the South.
NORMA RAE captures the courage of textile workers in the Carolinas fighting for union representation, echoing ongoing modern struggles across the South’s industrial corridors.
A BUG’S LIFE, though animated, is a sharp allegory about exploitation and the power of collective uprising—perfect for a younger audience and families.
REDS, an epic retelling of journalist John Reed’s life, with a focus on his coverage of the Bolshevik Revolution, highlights how international labor movements and radical politics shape national histories, reminding us of the broader global context of local fights.
MATEWAN (John Sayles, 1987, 135min)
"Matewan" is a minecart to the heart of the Appalachian coal country in the 1920s, where tensions between miners and the coal company reach a boiling point. Directed by the masterful storyteller John Sayles, and executed by a crew of entirely women artists/activists, this gripping film weaves together the threads of labor strife, racial tensions, and the struggle for justice in a landscape fraught with danger and uncertainty. Against the backdrop of a small West Virginia town, "Matewan" unfolds as a riveting tale of courage and solidarity, drawing audiences into a world where ordinary people defy extraordinary odds to fight for their rights.
At the center of "Matewan" lies a cast of richly drawn characters whose lives intertwine in unexpected ways. From the charismatic union organizer Joe Kenehan, played expertly by Chris Cooper in his screen debut, to the resilient coal miners (James Earl Jones among them) and the formidable company thugs, each character is brought to life with depth and nuance by Sayles' direction. “Matewan” is a brilliant lesson about many issues within the labor movement. It illustrates how the act of workers organizing together can work through deep racial hatred to form bonds of solidarity and kinship. It also focuses on the relationship between local police and striking miners. Sid Hatfield, the sheriff of the town, played to perfection by David Strathairn, is a local man paradoxically attempting to have morals and humanity while wearing a police uniform. The film brilliantly illustrates the true nature of policing in the world; to protect and uphold the property, interests, and will of the capitalist class, by showing what happens when workers truly get out of line. The capitalists hire mercenary militias and detective agencies who come from afar to squash anyone in their way.
"Matewan" is more than just a historical drama—it's a powerful meditation on the timeless struggle for worker dignity and justice in the face of oppression. As the tensions escalate and the stakes rise ever higher, "Matewan" builds to a breathtaking climax that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats, reminding us of the enduring power of solidarity and the human spirit in the face of adversity.
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The Chelsea Theater, in partnership with UE150, proudly presents MAY DAYS: LABOR ON THE MOVE!, a four-film series spotlighting workers’ struggles, union organizing, and collective action across decades and industries. Screenings will take place throughout July, August, and culminate on Labor Day, with films selected to inspire reflection and conversation about labor past and present.
Each EVENING screening will be introduced by members of UE150, who will also host community discussions after the films to explore connections between on-screen stories and current labor efforts across North Carolina as well as the current state of labor movements. Attendees will have access to resources and information including action items and opportunities to get involved—because labor struggle is always on the move, and there’s a role for everyone.
Who Is UE150:
UE150, the North Carolina Public Service Workers Union, is a democratic, member-run union organizing workers across public sectors including sanitation, healthcare, education, and transportation. For decades, they’ve fought for living wages, safe conditions, and collective bargaining rights in a state that bars public sector union contracts.
Why May Day Matters:
May Day, or International Workers’ Day, honors the global legacy of worker resistance. Though more widely celebrated abroad, May Day’s roots are deeply American, tied to the 1886 Haymarket Riots in Chicago where the Haymarket Martyrs fought for important basic labor rights like the eight-hour workday. May Day serves as a powerful reminder that ordinary people have the power to organize and fight for their own liberation. The struggle against oppression, exploitation, environmental destruction, and war is ongoing and global as is the enduring struggle for workplace dignity, safety, and fairness.
Film Lineup and Showtimes:
MATEWAN (John Sayles, 1987, 135 min) – Monday, July 7 at 1:00 PM & 7:00 PM
NORMA RAE (Martin Ritt, 1979, 114 min) – Monday, August 4 at 1:00 PM & 7:00 PM
A BUG’S LIFE (John Lasseter, 1998, 95 min) – Saturday, August 16 at 11:00 AM
REDS (Warren Beatty, 1981, 195 min) – Monday, September 1 (Labor Day) at 1:00 PM & 7:00 PM
About the Films and Their Relevance Today:
MATEWAN dramatizes a 1920s coal miners’ strike in West Virginia, illustrating the power of showing broader solidarity and organizing across racial lines under brutal conditions—a story resonant with today’s battles against union-busting in the South.
NORMA RAE captures the courage of textile workers in the Carolinas fighting for union representation, echoing ongoing modern struggles across the South’s industrial corridors.
A BUG’S LIFE, though animated, is a sharp allegory about exploitation and the power of collective uprising—perfect for a younger audience and families.
REDS, an epic retelling of journalist John Reed’s life, with a focus on his coverage of the Bolshevik Revolution, highlights how international labor movements and radical politics shape national histories, reminding us of the broader global context of local fights.
MATEWAN (John Sayles, 1987, 135min)
"Matewan" is a minecart to the heart of the Appalachian coal country in the 1920s, where tensions between miners and the coal company reach a boiling point. Directed by the masterful storyteller John Sayles, and executed by a crew of entirely women artists/activists, this gripping film weaves together the threads of labor strife, racial tensions, and the struggle for justice in a landscape fraught with danger and uncertainty. Against the backdrop of a small West Virginia town, "Matewan" unfolds as a riveting tale of courage and solidarity, drawing audiences into a world where ordinary people defy extraordinary odds to fight for their rights.
At the center of "Matewan" lies a cast of richly drawn characters whose lives intertwine in unexpected ways. From the charismatic union organizer Joe Kenehan, played expertly by Chris Cooper in his screen debut, to the resilient coal miners (James Earl Jones among them) and the formidable company thugs, each character is brought to life with depth and nuance by Sayles' direction. “Matewan” is a brilliant lesson about many issues within the labor movement. It illustrates how the act of workers organizing together can work through deep racial hatred to form bonds of solidarity and kinship. It also focuses on the relationship between local police and striking miners. Sid Hatfield, the sheriff of the town, played to perfection by David Strathairn, is a local man paradoxically attempting to have morals and humanity while wearing a police uniform. The film brilliantly illustrates the true nature of policing in the world; to protect and uphold the property, interests, and will of the capitalist class, by showing what happens when workers truly get out of line. The capitalists hire mercenary militias and detective agencies who come from afar to squash anyone in their way.
"Matewan" is more than just a historical drama—it's a powerful meditation on the timeless struggle for worker dignity and justice in the face of oppression. As the tensions escalate and the stakes rise ever higher, "Matewan" builds to a breathtaking climax that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats, reminding us of the enduring power of solidarity and the human spirit in the face of adversity.
