USA: Charlize Theron battles sexual politics in "North Country"

North Country starring South African Actress Charlize Theron is the story of Josey Aimes, a single mother who only wants to earn a living so she can take care of her two kids. She finds that security when she starts working at a male dominated iron mine in northern Minnesota. It's a gritty story, and as with her Oscar-winning portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in "Monster," viewers will hardly recognize the South African beauty. Theron believes the daring she showed in taking the role was was helped by the studio behind it. "I really take my hat off to Warner Bros. for making this film because I feel these kind of films are independent films, they're not really supported by studios. I thought it was incredibly brave for them to make this film and let Niki make it the way she really wanted to make it and not try to make it a formula or anything I'm extremely proud of this film, yeah!" "North Country" is the first American film by director Niki Caro, whose "Whale Rider" became New Zealand's most financially successful movie. While Caro says she was happy to do an American film she has no plans to "go hollywood." "I'm here I'm happy to be here and I had a wonderful experience but, I feel like a tourist and I don't intend to live here. The way that I make films um, means that I can't live here I have to have the perspective of being from somewhere else." In the film Josie is forced to develop a tough skin as she endures the unspeakable cruelty and sexual harassment forced upon the women of the mines by their male co-workers. Even Josey's father a life long miner stands against her with his fellow co-workers. Acting on an invitation from the company president to approach him with any problems Josey finds that the open door policy he described is slammed in her face and she's made to feel like she asked for the treatment she received. When word gets back to the plant about her meeting, she is ostracized by both the men and women of the mine. That's when she decides to hire a lawyer played by Woody Harrelson to sue the mine and eventually wins the first class action suit involving sexual harassment in the country. One of the reasons Harrelson signed onto the film was his great respect for director Caro. "Yeah, you know, I was feeling it, god you know, something about just working with Niki Caro, the way she talks to you for a scene, it's almost like she's communicating in poetry all the time, it's just so pure and it really is helpful." Also starring in the film are Frances McDormand, Richard Jenkins and Sissy Spacek. For Theron, any thoughts of nabbing a second Oscar are beside the point. "It's not something I think about at all. It's not something that ever enters my mind it's not why I get up in the morning it's not it's a great honor I've experienced it. I'm incredibly grateful for that. and I think that it would be incredibly greedy to think something like that comes around again in your lifetime. North Country opens in US theaters on October 21st.

ITN Source | October 26, 2005

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