Erin Brockovich movie dramatizes the real-life story of a twice-divorced, mother of three children, Erin Brockovich who takes up a legal fight against Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). The film was released in 2000 and was directed by Steven Soderbergh. Julia Roberts portrayed the role of Erin Brockovich and won the Academy Award, Screen Actors’ Guild Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA for Best Actress.
Erin Brockovich is an unemployed single mother facing financial problems after failing to get the compensation in a lawsuit against the man who hit her in a car accident. She asks her attorney Edward L. Masry (Albert Finney) to hire her in his office and after much persuasion; he employs her as the file clerk. One day while working, she comes across real-estate files containing medical records. She starts investigating the case and discovers that the water supply to town Hinkley is contaminated with Chromium 6 which is responsible for the extensive illness in the area. She also discovers the corporate cover-up in the cases involving deaths in the town due to drinking contaminated water. Driven by a desire to seek justice for the people of Hinkley, Erin decides to make Pacific Gas & Electric answerable for the deaths they have caused. Erin and Edward L. Masry take the help of the local community and file a lawsuit against PG&E and in the end the case was settled and the company was ordered to pay $333 million as compensation. It was the largest medical settlement ever paid in a direct action lawsuit in US history.
It was the fighting spirit of Erin Brockovich that resulted in exposing PG&E of leaking toxic Chromium 6 into ground water and brought justice to the residents of Hinkley. The movie also had the real Erin Brockovich making an appearance as a waitress named Julia.
Erin Brockovich is a strong and smart woman who fights if something wrong is happening. No one takes her seriously because she wears trashy clothes but she is a true fighter. The movie picks up the issue of corporate responsibility and how one woman connects with the residents of Hinkley and fights for justice.
