North Country

North Country is Niki Caro’s directorial follow-up to the hugely successful Whale Rider. Set in the iron mining region of north Minnesota, North Country tackles sexual harassment in the workplace and is based on the book Class Action: The Story of Lois Jenson and the Landmark Case That Changed Sexual Harassment Law by Clara Bingham. The film stars Charlize Theron and Frances McDormand with Sean Bean, Woody Harrelson and Sissy Spacek. Theron delivers another gritty performance in the role of single mother Josie Aimes, who rallies her female coworkers to rise above unfair treatment they face at a local mining company. Caro said: “With North Country, I was so shocked that these events had happened in such recent history. I was very intrigued by the fact that every person in every industry I’ve talked to has heard of sexual harassment. And yet, in a cinematic culture that damages and demoralizes female characters with embarrassing regularity, making a film about sexual harassment seemed like a bold act. Nobody’s made this film before.”