Herbert J. Biberman, 1954, 110 min.
In English and Spanish with English subtitles
Set in New Mexico’s Empire Zinc mine, Salt of the Earth tells the story of Mexican-American workers who strike to protest hazardous working conditions and unequal pay compared to their Anglo coworkers. When a court injunction bars the men from picketing, the women boldly take their place on the front lines—challenging both the mining company and the entrenched gender norms within their own community. The film is an inspiring depiction of the solidarity and resilience of the mine workers.
Inspired by Italian neorealism and filmed on location with striking naturalistic detail, the 1954 drama cast mostly non-professional actors, including actual miners and their families. Directed by Herbert J. Biberman, written by Michael Wilson, and produced by Paul Jarrico—all blacklisted Hollywood artists due to alleged communist ties—the film itself became a political battleground during the height of McCarthyism and was subject to intense censorship and suppression.
Screening preceded by The Hollywood Ten, John Berry, 1950, 15 min.
The Hollywood Ten is a 1950 American short documentary film. Shot in 16mm, it was created quickly to raise public awareness and legal funds for the ten blacklisted screenwriters and directors who comprised the "Hollywood Ten" who faced prison sentences for contempt of Congress stemming from their non-cooperation with the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC).
Screening followed by a discussion with Nico Baumbach and Doyne Farmer
Nico Baumbach is Associate Professor of Film in the Columbia School of the Arts. His research and teaching focus on critical theory, film theory, documentary, and the intersection of aesthetic and political philosophy. His first book Cinema/Politics/Philosophy was published by Columbia University Press in 2019. He is currently working on a book titled The Anonymous Image.
Doyne Farmer is the Baillie Gifford Professor of Complex Systems Science at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford, and External Professor at the Santa Fe Institute. He grew up in Silver City, New Mexico, where the miners' strike on which Salt of the Earth is based took place, and has always been fascinated by the film’s history.
These screenings are part of Columbia Maison Française CENSURED FILM SERIES - FALL 2025.
