Theoron braves tortures of 'North Country'

Rape, violence and abuse toward women run ramped in mine town

Andrew Prince / Reviewer

Niki Caro, whose previous film, "Whale Rider" was a real crowd pleaser winning audience awards at the Sundance and Toronto film festivals, directed "North Country." I have not seen "Whale Rider," but I can imagine that the film is much lighter than this one. "North Country" deals with issues such as rape, violence and abuse toward women, among other things. There are some scenes that are powerful without being graphic, where we see just enough to get the point. The language, however, is rougher than the action, and does not seem to fit with this movie.

Charlize Theron plays Josey Aimes, a young mother of two who leaves her husband to go to her parents' house until she can afford one of her own. Josey does not have the best relationship with her father, who believes she has brought only shame onto their family. An old friend of Josey's named Glory (Frances McDormand) suggests that Josey take a job at the mine she also works at. The mine job offers good money, so she takes it. But it does not take long for Josey to find out what she has gotten herself into. She and the other women workers are called obscene names and physically harassed by the male workers.

Josey wants to rally her female worker friends and take a stand against the harassment they take every day. Her friends are resistant; they are afraid of losing the legal battle with the mining company and need their jobs in order to survive. Josey quits her job and pursues her case with Bill White (Woody Harrelson), a friend of Glory's husband, as her lawyer.

I have recently heard that there are two types of actors: those that are interested in the craft of acting and those who just want to be celebrities. If this is true, then it is in this reviewer's opinion that Theron is the first type. If you want proof, see this movie, if you want further proof watch her in "Monster." There is a scene where Josey has just been harassed and is on the brink of crying. Glory makes sure she is okay and Josey thanks her for getting her this job that puts food in the mouths of her two children. We feel Josey's ambivalence: she finally has a job that allows her to survive on her own, but she doesn't like the job itself.

Having said all this, the movie is not as good as it could have been. The story is served well but is weakened by a couple of scenes and an acting outburst that seem inconsistent with the characters. The violence in this film does not match the cruelty of the language. If fact, the violence is rather tame compared to the language. I think if more emphasis were put on the actions of the male workers towards the women there would be a stronger sense of urgency for their safety. The film is well done, but it's also timid.

Contact Andrew Prince at pendulum@elon.edu or 278-7247.

Photo courtesy of http://www. movies.com

Charlize Theoron (top), Frances McDormand and Woody Harrelson star in "North Country."