Salt of the Earth
Directed by Herbert J. Biberman
Written by Michael Wilson
1954/USA
Independent Production Company/Intl Union of Mine, Mill & Smelter Workers
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#293 of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
[box] Esperanza Quintero: Whose neck shall I stand on to make me feel superior, and what will I have out of it? I don’t want anything lower than I am. I am low enough already. I want to rise and to push everything up with me as I go.[/box]
This blacklisted movie is far ahead of its time in terms of its feminism.
The plot is based on an actual strike and takes place in contemporary New Mexico. The film is narrated by Esperanza Quintera (Rosaura Revueltas), who lives with her husband and two children in quarters provided by the zinc mine where her husband works as a miner. There is another baby on the way. Her husband Ramon divides his time between union meetings and the beer hall. The family does not have hot running water or an indoor toilet. At times, she wishes that the baby will not be born.
After one accident too many, the miners are deciding whether to go on strike over safety issues in the mine and for equality between the Mexican-American and white workers. The women want the strike to include better sanitation for the company housing. The men reject this suggestion but vote to go on strike.
The strike is brutally suppressed but the picket line cannot be broken. Finally, the company invokes the Taft-Hartley Act to ban picketing by striking miners. The women then volunteer to maintain the picket line themselves. None of the men, in particular Ramon, is in favor of this idea but the women prove themselves to be steadfast and brave “sisters” despite imprisonment and harassment. With Will Geer as the sheriff.
This film was made in the neo-realist style with many non-professional actors. Sometimes it comes off as overly didactic but I liked it. Revueltas really makes you sympathize with her plight. It kept me engaged throughout.
This film was not shown in U.S. theaters until 1965 because the director, producer, writer and composer were all blacklisted.
Trailer
