Matewan | Beautifully placed, pictured and performed

Matewan | Hits home

DVDs:

Matewan

	Matewan average customer review:based on 65 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

Beautifully placed, pictured and performed

It seems not widely known that this poignant and proud film was shot in Thurmond, WVa., a once booming and now all-but-abandoned coal town absent from many maps, where main street is indeed a railroad track and where a visit today is a step back in time . . . to that very time . . . a time born of coal mines and railroads I was fortunate to visit and photograph with my wife, who's from Huntington, just last summer. Having walked amid the the water tanks, the coal and sand towers . . . the bank and hotel fronts . . . the homes later seen in an earlier time through the movie made this an extremely absorbing film for me. My wife would probably not agree, as such things about the history of West Virginia, where she is visiting again this week, and depictions of its people, like the Okies in "Grapes of Wrath," seem to strike her with a different, harder kind of edge. To me, Thurmond is as wonderful a setting for "Matewan" as Sayles's movie is a palpable depiction of life for men and families struggling powerlessly -- almost -- for each day. The darkened "streets" of Thurmond today, like the blackened miner's face at the film's end, say it all at a glance. See it.

for more information click here

Hits home

I have seen this movie several times and each time I find something new. My great-grandfather was involved in the coal wars. This movie is based in fact, with some creative license: Sid Hatfield was the sheriff and there was a battle and a war. It brings the pages of my history book alive. It reminds me of stories I have been told. When you watch this movie you can relate to what life was like for our families at that time.

A truly great movie by a great filmmaker

I've watched this movie many, many times because I have frequently showed it to my Advanced Placement U.S. History classes during the post-A.P. Exam period. I never get tired of it. Joe Kenehan, the United Mine Workers organizer who tries to help the coalminers in Matewan, may be my all-time favorite movie character. I'm getting old, I guess (age 61), but I still believe in heroes. Joe Kenehan was a hero. The fact that the movie is based closely on real events makes it all the more fascinating.

for more information click here

based on true incident in Matewan, WVa, World Book Encyc.

Have used this movie in course in social work graduate and undergraduate programs, in the human behavior and social environment (groups and communities) sequence. Sayles' Lone Star is equally effective as it includes families'more than Matewan. What's especially appealing about Matewan is that its so plausibly real-you know that this version could very well be what actually happened. Makes for great discussion. In same caterory as Grapes of Wrath and On the Waterfront.

Little known factoid!

Didja know that the role of the young preacher is played by Will Oldham, who later went onto to (modest) fame and (little) fortune as the leader of the bands Palace, Palace Brothers, Palace Music and Palace Songs? True. Oldham currently records under the name Bonnie Prince Billie. Oh, and the movie was pretty great.

for more information click here