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MATEWAN, John Sayles’ Classic Telling of the 1920’s Coal Miners Strike and Matewan Massacre at Peace Center of Delaware County. A TRUE STORY!
September 6, 2019 @ 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Free First Friday Film Screening @Peace Center of Delaware County/Springfield Friends Meetinghouse, 1001 Old Sproul Rd.,Springfield, PA.
7p.m. film start (doors open at 6:30p.m. with light refreshments)
Directions & More: www.delcopeacecenter.org
Organized and hosted by the Brandywine Peace Community. For more information, call 484-574-1148
Matewan
1987. 132 min. PG-13.
Matewan brings to life the bitter coal miners strike in Mingo County, West Virginia, in the 1920s. When the mining company cuts workers’ wages, the miners go on strike.
The mining company imports African Americans and Italian workers from outside the area, to break the strike. An interracial struggle ensues, until workers realize their strength lies in sticking together.
Union organizer Joe Kenehan says, “You know there ain’t but two sides in this world—them that work and them that don’t. You work; they don’t. That’s all you got to know about the enemy.”
Based on a true story, the unfolding drama culminates in a violent confrontation. Within the riveting events of the struggle, writer/ director John Sayles weaves together timely and timeless issues about conflict between economic power and social justice, interracial cooperation, and violence versus nonviolence to achieve justice.
Chris Cooper stars in the pivotal role of union organizer Joe Kenehan, with the always superb James Earl Jones as the leader of the Black workers. Will Oldham plays a 14-year-old mine worker and sometimes preacher.
There are heroes and villains throughout the film, dramatic turns and suspense from start to finish, and a story with multiple themes and messages that provide an ongoing teaching and history lesson — for our times certainly no less.