More than the communist movie people involved. Most of the charecters were played by actual mine workers who had gone on strike and inspired the film. People were playing themselves (approximately). It was written collaboratively in big meetings which included the Hollywood people and the workers.

The union itself was noteable for refusing to bend to the red scare in a context when all the others did. It got blowback from the rest of the labor movement.

The filming was disrupted by physical attacks and threats. Once it got done it had a lot of trouble being published, distributed. Lots of people fought it by various means. It was basically banned for a long time.

The story is about how worker solidarity and patriarchy can influence each other. People can be hypocritical and act very badly to their comrades (like their wives) even while talking a big game about being radical. Through struggle and holding each other accountable we grow and improve individually and collectively.

In case there’s any doubt, its a really good movie and not just on political grounds. Just as a movie. It was created with so much care and love and skill and understanding.

I haven’t read it but there is a 200+ page long FBI file if you prefer a review from another perspective.

Yes, it’s going to be released on the 16th. It’s being narrated by comrade Wallace Shawn and will be available for free on YouTube. It’s a thoughtful and hilarious coffee table book filled with some insightful observations, true stories, anecdotes, and a few pieces of short fiction I wrote as a kid that are comedically bad but think are especially prescient about our present political climate.

If you do want to pay, physical copies are available for pre-order, if you want to support my community more from my local anarchist bookstore, Mount Dope Vibe-rary.

Saw your response to another comment. So far we only have some written material, but i think they will release a video soon. Theres a video of a declaration made by hanie himself tô the people of Brasil. Try those keywords here https://causaoperaria.org.br/2024/o-que-rui-costa-pimenta-conversou-com-o-lider-do-hamas/

And

https://causaoperaria.org.br/2024/a-declaracao-de-ismail-hanie-lider-do-hamas-ao-povo-brasileiro/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-declaracao-de-ismail-hanie-lider-do-hamas-ao-povo-brasileiro

And

https://youtu.be/9YMsckrs6Jo?si=ts-kkyLoiRFtIp3x