# Matewan (1987)

> In a coal town divided by race, immigration, and corporate power, a union organizer tries to turn exploited miners into a united force before violence overwhelms their fragile alliance.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/movie/14329

## Facts

- Runtime: 132 min
- Genres: Drama, History
- Director: John Sayles
- Cast: Chris Cooper, James Earl Jones, Mary McDonnell, Will Oldham, David Strathairn, Ken Jenkins, Kevin Tighe, Gordon Clapp
- TMDB rating: 7.4/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093509/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: layered
- Violence: brutal
- Mood: grim, earnest, atmospheric, political film night, historical drama viewing

## Synopsis

A gripping tale of struggle and unity amidst the chaos of labor rights.

## Movies like Matewan

- [Against the Wall (1994)](https://ember.film/movie/19810)
- [Jimmy's Hall (2014)](https://ember.film/movie/151952)
- [Germinal (1993)](https://ember.film/movie/35208)
- [Salt of the Earth (1954)](https://ember.film/movie/13969)
- [Norma Rae (1979)](https://ember.film/movie/26041)
- [F.I.S.T. (1978)](https://ember.film/movie/17754)
- [The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006)](https://ember.film/movie/850)
- [The Best of Enemies (2019)](https://ember.film/movie/311986)
- [Places in the Heart (1984)](https://ember.film/movie/7962)
- [The Old Oak (2023)](https://ember.film/movie/897387)

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