They always say it's based on a true story but it really means the filmmakers are creating something that has true facts and expectations. Filmmakers know what moves an audience the most is when they think the characters are real actual people that once felt this way or that. The filmmakers are pulling on the movie viewers' heartstrings. North Country is based on miners in Minnesota. Even though the movie bases the storyline on a woman miner, there was never an actual woman that did all these amazing things. Director and writer, Niki Caro picked Charlize Theron because her role in Monster blew Caro away in her character and performance, plus Charlize is a beautiful woman. Caro wanted the main character to have the look of beauty but that small town mentality. The story unravels as an energetic, youthful woman goes against her father's wishes and takes a position as an iron miner in a small town in Minnesota. This movie is a very powerful one and gives a completely different feeling then Fargo, the last movie filmed in Minnesota.

Source: Google