King Coal

Although it's nice to see some homie country folk, all of my people are from Eastern Kentucky and my grandpa was a coal miner who had black lung, there is almost no truth to this documentary, it shows some people and some reminiscing and talks about coal mining a little bit, but there's no truth to this!, how dangerous it is?, yeah, everyone knows that, that it's a part of all these people's lives and has been for generations?, yeah, everybody knows that, what's missing is the part about why we need to stop using coal because of the health dangers to the miners, which are skipped over entirely, and most importantly, the whole thing about how bad it is for the environment!, and how many hundreds of thousands of people die because of burning coal!, yeah, skip this slanted viewpoint, which never really makes a point.

Saw this at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival

"King Coal" is a documentary about the cultural roots of coal continue to permeate the rituals of daily life in Appalachia even as its economic power wanes. The journey of a coal miner's daughter exploring the region's dreams and myths, untangling the pain and beauty. King Coal has amazing camerawork and beautiful scenarios of the American country landscapes and coal mining environment.

The film consistent and non-traditional formula style of filmmaking and it offers a nice insight of the environment, tone and setting. It does suffer from some lack of energy and tone problems but I still did enjoy learning about the Appalachia landscapes and what makes the place very special.

Rating: B-

This film manages to achieve what so few do: Take a look at a subject without resorting to cliche or repetition. So many perspectives on coal are black and white -- this one explores the complex and historical relationship with coal of the people who live and work with it. It does not demonize coal or coal miners, nor does it whitewash the devastating effects of the industry on the land and people. For once Appalachians are portrayed in a nuanced, compassionate way, and with the perspective provided you come to understand how and why coal has helped and hindered Appalachia. It took me several days to conclude what I had been trying to figure out: This film is art, not just a simple documentary. It braves the risk of presenting a story within the story, focusing on a child and how she grows up with the complicated realities of her region. The stunning visuals made me eager for others to see past the stereotypes into the beauty that is this sacred place. Well done, Ms. Sheldon.

I was expecting something much more incisive about these troubled coal producing regions. There is just an inkling of that - with some funerals and the historical animosity towards unions. But most of the time the film just drifts along with children walking in the woods and sauntering by streams. It's all very lyrical and poetic.

Nothing is said about the current opiate addiction problems. Little about the health problems of miners. Everybody looks reasonably content and happy. Not a hint of how the decaying coal industry has ravaged the lives of these people.

Looking at the homes shown - they all look middle class with not a hint of poverty. We are viewing a Potemkin village in rustic West Virginia or Kentucky.

While King Coal is set in Appalachia, don't dismiss it as a regional film. Many people agree that America needs new stories to live by. The story we lived by in Appalachia for a century expired twenty years ago, so Appalachia has wisdom to share. King Coal is an extraordinary elegy for the "King" in the title. Then the film goes farther and nudges us to consider ways to move forward that are not dystopia or fantasy. What I love most about the film is how Sheldon shows us that the resources we need for the future are ones we in Appalachia have had all along: unity, ingenuity, resilience, community, integrity, imagination, and above all, humanity. It's an object lesson for the whole United States.

This is a beautiful and honest film, original and elemental. Its final scene is one of the most powerful I've ever seen and certainly the most cathartic. And if you are an American, the power generated by old King Coal likely played a role in your life as well.