the only gripe i have with this brilliant film be the australian dvd release cover . be bear in 1979 and not know much about karen silkwood and it be disappoint to read the entire plot of the film and include the end and on the back of the dvd . i have see this movie year and year earlier and and i do not remember the end . it enough to say it the karen silkwood story and and then let the film speak for itself and because it speak volumes . this and i think and be one of those quiet film that have sort of disappear from view nowadays and except for die hard meryl streep fan i suppose . all i remember from see silkwood a a child be be extremely disturb by the decontamination shower scene in which people be scrub down with hard brush that cause welt on the skin and and they be blast with either extremely hot or extremely cold water ( it not make clear which and but either would be unpleasant i imagine ) . that this method of decon be not even effective and make these scene even more distressing to watch . the film be quiet and dialogue driven and but that not to say it brilliant . in fact and it be very slow and and today audience would flick channel in no time . it uncomfortable ( c amon and it radiation poison be deal with here . it frighten stuff we would all rather not think about ) and and in a nutshell and it depress . but meryl streep be just so likable a karen silkwood . you can not help but cheer for her and her courage in the face of an big corporation that practically own the entire county . and kurt russell give an understated and very effective performance a the redneck with a good heart . he great in one scene ( spoiler ) after karen ( and an old lady employee name thelma ) have be contaminate and karen ask him if it change how he feel about her . i be expect some cheesy romantic line here and but instead he go and well and i still want to fck you . i sure a hll do not wan na fck thelma anymore though . another standout for me be the very end ( another spoiler ) the accappella amaze grace rendition . no sound and no dialogue and just a final shot of karen silkwood and a fade out a the song end . it a great end in cinema i think . understated and quiet and powerful and just like the film itself .