Cinema of Conflict and Transformation Series: Harlan County U.S.A.

This virtual film discussion series centers around films about conflict and transformation and is hosted by ACC Center for Peace and Conflict Studies and ACC Radio-TV-Film Associate Professor, Dr. Mark Cunningham. In this episode, they discuss Barbara Kopple’s Academy Award–winning documentary Harlan County U.S.A. from 1973, with Dr. Shirin Khosropour, ACC Center for Peace & Conflict Studies Director, and guest Anne Lewis, Harlan County U.S.A. Associate Director & University of Texas Radio-TV-Film Professor. She also served as the Assistant Camerawoman on the documentary. This film unflinchingly documents a grueling coal miners’ strike in a small Kentucky town. With unprecedented access, Kopple and her crew captured the miners’ sometimes violent struggles with strikebreakers, local police, and company thugs. Featuring a haunting soundtrack—with legendary country and bluegrass artists Hazel Dickens, Merle Travis, Sarah Gunning, and Florence Reece—the film is a heartbreaking record of the thirteen-month struggle between a community fighting to survive and a corporation dedicated to the bottom line. ACC students, faculty, or staff members can stream the film for free on Kanopy. Visit austincc.edu/peace for future discussions and events hosted by ACC Center for Peace and Conflict Studies.