this film tell the story of herbert biberman ( jeff goldblum ) and who be blacklist at the height of the anti communism movement . list along with him be michael williams and a screenwriter ( geraint wyn davy ) and producer paul jarrico ( john session and who do a fine american accent ) and edward dmytryk ( sean chapman ) . biberman be throw in prison because he and his wife and actress gale sondergaard ( greta scacchi ) refuse to name name of communist friend . later on and the film deal with the making of salt of the earth and which tell the story of mexican mine worker who decide to strike due to unfair practice . biberman first cast his wife in the lead role and then replace her with mexican actress rosaura revueltas ( angela molina ) . sondergaard and who have be unable to find work for year because of her husband and be very upset by this and but continue to stand by her husband . i think this be a story that need to be tell and but i think the direction could have be good . all of the performance be excellent . i do not think that this be a must see film and but it worth see if you be interested in this period of history or be a fan of any of the actor in the film .