Everyday People

Every time I see the movie Norma Rae on TV I stop what I’m doing and watch- not because it’s the greatest movie- it’s not even a great movie- but because it is a great story about everyday people. It’s a story about poor textile workers in a Southern factory town and how Norma Rae- a poor, 30-something mom and factory worker- joins forces with Reuben- a Jewish union organizer from New York City- to help the factory workers form a union in order to protect their rights and safety and restore their dignity.

For me, it’s astonishing to realize not only did Hollywood used to make quality movies like this but they were really popular (Sally field won an Oscar) and people who watched Norma Rae were better for it. People watching Norma Rae today may be shocked to learn the United States even has leftists and unions let alone a long history of trying to crush them. The heart of the movie is the unlikely friendship formed between Norma Rae and Reuben and I still find myself reaching for the tissues during the final minutes of the movie when the workers realize life has finally handed them a break and Norma Rae and Reuben realize they must now go their separate ways- and all of them are forever changed. The great closing song “It Goes Like It Goes” also won an Oscar that year. Grade: A

Recommended Links:

Jennifer Warnes – "It Goes Like It Goes"