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North Country

R Released Oct 21, 2005 2h 6m Drama List
70% Tomatometer 175 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Single mother Josey Aimes (Charlize Theron) is part of a group of the first women to work at a local iron mine in Minnesota. Offended that they have to work with women, male workers at Eveleth Mines lash out at them and subject them to sexual harassment. Appalled by the constant stream of insults, sexually explicit language and physical abuse, Josey -- despite being cautioned against it by family and friends -- files a historic sexual harassment lawsuit.
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North Country

North Country

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Critics Consensus

Though sometimes melodramatic and formulaic, North Country is nonetheless a rousing, powerful story of courage and humanity.

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Critics Reviews

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J. R. Jones Chicago Reader Charlize Theron, in nonglam mode, dominates this powerful drama about sexual harassment at a Minnesota iron mine in the early 90s. Jun 28, 2022 Full Review David Ansen Newsweek Frances McDormand, as the lone female union rep, and Richard Jenkins, as Josie's angry miner dad, cut through the predictability. Mar 14, 2018 Full Review Victoria Segal New Statesman Yet Theron's steady performance allows you to see something in Josey that baulks at her victim status. Sep 26, 2017 Full Review Tom Meek Cambridge Day Theron as usual is spot on, even if the drama feels a bit watered down. Rated: 2.5/4 Sep 10, 2020 Full Review Chris McCoy Memphis Flyer It was probably ordained from the beginning that the ending of North Country would be pure schmaltz, but isn't that what you sign up for when you buy your ticket to a movie like this? Theron and Caro deliver the goods. Jan 8, 2020 Full Review Micheal Compton Bowling Green Daily News Theron's performance gives the film the emotional core needed to make it among the best films I have seen this year. Rated: A- Nov 19, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Sandpoint C The scene where Richard Jenkins defends his daughter at the union hall is among the most powerful and emotional scenes you'll find anywhere. Worth watching the movie for that visceral scene alone, the venerable Jenkins steals every scene he's in. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/27/24 Full Review Audience Member Any harassment is bad but it is awful when it's institutionalized. I am happy that North America does a lot to change it. Great movie, great acting! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member I thought this movie was very inspiring for anyone that is trying to go up against their own personal giant. This movie is about a young, single mother who is being sexually harassed by men at her job on the iron range. Her and several co-workers decide to fight back by filling a lawsuit that no one but a small law firm decides to take on. It is a long-drawn out battle, but one that is finally won and is the beginning of a new precedence for sexual harassment in the workplace. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review ronald h There's nothing inherently wrong with a "movie with a message." It's just that it's usually loaded with all of the contrivance and affectation we expect from Hollywood. In the case of "North Country," we're told at the beginning that it is "inspired by a true story." Lois Jenson was a female miner in Minnesota who was sexually harassed on the job (along with her female co-workers) to the point where she filed a class action lawsuit and won (although it took the court nine years to finally make a ruling). The question is, how accurate is this film? A well-made documentary would be more objective. But documentaries are not "entertainment." In a documentary, we wouldn't get to see Charlize Theron, who wouldn't last 20 minutes in a real iron mine, all smeared with dirt and grime. Then there's the dramatization. Was Jensen's teenage son really so sullen and intransigent? Was her father originally such a chauvinist pig, and did really he turn into a penitent so quickly? Was Jensen's attorney really such a knight in shining armor? Let's face it; Hollywood loves to embellish and exaggerate. We expect Hollywood to entertain us in various ways. But when it comes to "true" stories, I get skeptical. But I don't want to be too harsh. The movie is well-intentioned, even though with its incredibly star-studded cast, it's clearly Oscar bait. And it's a good story about a precedent-setting case that needs to be remembered. You'll be entertained---as Hollywood intended. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member A little to melodramatic but a decent look into the sexual harassments' of blue collar workers. I remember those pre lawsuit days as a white collar. I thought some of the older guys were creeps. (Some of the older women would hit on younger guys but it wasn't as sleazed) I remember one of my co-workers whom I was friends with crying and asked if she broke up with her fiancé. My boss told her to sleep with him or never get ahead. I nearly threw this guy out the 32nd floor window of the Hemsley Building in NYC: I really had him halfway out as the building was the old NY Central RR Building by Vanderbilt and it had open/close windows, not those floor to ceiling windows. I was told you can't throw Frank out the window, but nice work by Human Resources. Then her fiancé gave me Rangers tickets, those are gold. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Two words: Amber Heard Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews
North Country

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Movie Info

Synopsis Single mother Josey Aimes (Charlize Theron) is part of a group of the first women to work at a local iron mine in Minnesota. Offended that they have to work with women, male workers at Eveleth Mines lash out at them and subject them to sexual harassment. Appalled by the constant stream of insults, sexually explicit language and physical abuse, Josey -- despite being cautioned against it by family and friends -- files a historic sexual harassment lawsuit.
Director
Niki Caro
Producer
Nick Wechsler, Nana Greenwald
Screenwriter
Michael Seitzman
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Production Co
Warner Brothers
Rating
R (Sexual Dialogue|Language|Sexual Harassment|Sexual Violence)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 21, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 18, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$18.3M
Runtime
2h 6m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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