이른바 ‘민중영화’의 고전. 영화는 1950년 뉴멕시코주 실버시티의 아연 광산에서 벌어졌던 광부파업이 소재가 됐다. 잇따르는 광부 매몰사고를 계기로 한 멕시코계 광부들의 파업과정이 영화를 끌고 가지만, 거기서 인종문제와 계급문제와 여성문제 등 당대 미국 사회에 잠복해있던 모든 구조적인 문제들이 돌출한다. #시놉 Based on an actual strike against the Empire Zinc Mine in New Mexico, the film deals with the prejudice against the Mexican-American workers, who struck to attain wage parity with Anglo workers in other mines and to be treated with dignity by the bosses. The film is an early treatment of feminism, because the wives of the miners play a pivotal role in the strike, against their husbands wishes. In the end, the greatest victory for the workers and their families is the realization that prejudice and poor treatment are conditions that are not always imposed by outside forces. This film was written, directed and produced by members of the original "Hollywood Ten," who were blacklisted for refusing to answer Congressional inquiries on First Amendment grounds.