King Coal

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.

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-

As a 50+ year resident of WV, mostly in rural areas, I have also traveled to every county of the state. I love how this film showcases our state's incredible beauty while including archival and current documentary images of the realities of our coal heritage. It is respectful to this culture while providing a healing spirit that can help to inspire us as we move beyond it to a more diversified future. There is something here for everyone in our state to relate to as we see glimpses of places and events that we know. This is also the best antidote I can think of to the degrading images that have so often been used to try to undermine our sense of ourselves and what we know to be true. The two graceful and relatable young women who lead us through the story do justice to our promise for the future. Bravo to everyone who is involved!

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.