YMMV / Salt of the Earth

• Narm Charm: Understandably, the non-professionals in the cast aren't especially skilled at acting and come off a bit stilted at times, but the knowledge that they're all re-enacting events they actually took part in makes it compelling.
• Values Resonance: Struggles of low-income workers, racial discrimination, and Feminism. A film about intersectionality, made in 1954 !
• Vindicated by History: Largely unseen in 1954, the film started gaining attention and praise in The '60s. It was placed in the National Film Registry in 1992 (one of the first 100 films selected) and several books have been written about it. Most interestingly, it's been honored by Grant County, New Mexico as part of its historical heritage. There was a 60th anniversary screening in 2014, sponsored by several unions (including law enforcement). Also, there's a building at Western New Mexico University named after Juan Chacon, the strike leader who went on to play Ramon in the film.