Norma Rae (1979)

Sally Field is utterly amazing in this role, truly inhabiting Norma Rae Wilson (later Webster).
She's an ordinary woman who works in a textile mill. Some might even call her white trash. Her first husband died in a bar fight, of all things. She was never married to the father of her son. While she hates her job and thinks that the workers (including her parents) are mistreated, she knows that it is the only job in town.
So when the union organizer, Reuben Warshowsky (Ron Liebman) comes in, she finds a new spark to her life. She eventually gives in and starts trying to get the union started, despite the misgivings of her new husband, Sonny Webster (Beau Bridges). He isn't thrilled with blacks coming over to his house, though Norma promptly puts him in his place.
The film gradually shows the mill workers coming around to the idea of the union, and does eventually unionize, thanks to Norma's tireless efforts, but the problem arises when the mill owners post a sign trying to get the whites and blacks against each other and Norma jots down the memo, note for note and gets the workers to realize that the power rests with them, and winds in jail and fired because of her actions.
There is also a very real feel to the film, including the loudness and shrilling of the mill machines, not to mention a fearless performance from Field. She's brilliant and won almost every award under the sun for her role and she deserved every one of them.
However, the film is not perfect. The nasty mill owners never face legal action or consequence for that false memo or for firing Norma. Still, the film is a marvel nonetheless, with a grittyness seldom seen in films and a simple, but effective anthem. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Sonny is actually mostly a supportive husband, though he has his moments where he gets upset when he doesn't get laid.
-Norma's father's (Pat Hinkle's) death deserved more attention considering he likely died because he couldn't take a break when he needed to.
-This is likely one of the earliest films that mentions a woman's period and I commend the film for being bold.
-In addition to being a hard worker, Norma is also devoted to her kids, her own two children and her stepdaughter.