Director Mike Nichols ("The Graduate") nggawa ing skrene crita tragedi Karen Silkwood (Meryl Streep), sing mati ing kasus misterio, ning malah nyritaké praktikan ing plant Kerr-McGee, tambahan nuklear Oaklahoma sing digawé. Nichols's film nand Karen, bojoné Drew (Kurt Russell) lan room-woother's maksud falk-build Dolly (Cher), sing mbokmenawa wis dijawab karo Karen. It's speculated in the film that Dolly's Kerr-McGeee's cocog bukti sing nggawa bukti-buktiné, yaitu dinggo tambahan sing dinggo ding korupsi.