Movie

In Dubious Battle

2016 · 110 min

A somber, slow-burning historical drama that immerses you in the grit and tension of a labor strike, with an earnest ensemble and a heavy sense of inevitability.

Overview: In the California apple country, 900 migratory workers rise 'in dubious battle' against the landowners. The group takes on a life of its own—stronger than its individual members, and more frightening. Led by the doomed Jim Nolan, the strike is founded on his tragic idealism—'courage, never submit, or yield'.

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How it feels

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Tone: earneststrength 2 of 3
bleakstrength 2 of 3
tensestrength 2 of 3
melancholicstrength 1 of 3
Pacing: measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention: engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes: class
power
justice
survival
betrayal
Places: countryside
small town
Era: period
Audience: adult
Form: ensemble
true story
Content intensity: Gore none
Language mild
Violence mild
Sex none

All scales, 0 to 10

Scales, 0 to 10
Scale	Value	0 to 10
Action	3
Horror	1
Humour	2
Realism	8
Romance	1
Tension	6
Darkness	6
Complexity	6
Emotional weight	7

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Where to watch in the UK

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Streaming data from JustWatch.All options on TMDB

Details

Genres: drama
Directed by: James Franco
Written by: Matt Rager
Starring: James Franco, Nat Wolff, Selena Gomez, Vincent D'Onofrio, Robert Duvall, Ed Harris, Sam Shepard, Bryan Cranston
Music: Volker Bertelmann
Cinematography: Bruce Thierry Cheung
Runtime: 110 min
Country: United States of America
Languages: English

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In Dubious Battle

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