Captures the duality of coal both sustaining and harming the community

Although I watched it several years after it was made, this short film was pretty relevant when I did so, as Republicans went after Obama for (today) his war on coal – as if somehow moving away from burning rocks was a bad thing simply because it would impact some specific communities. This is a duality that the film walks very well – the fact that the coal industry simultaneously maintains a community while also undeniably harming it too.

Although I took away an agenda from the film, I think this is because I brought it (being a liberal far from a community that would be affected if coal went away tomorrow), not because the film brought one. Instead we see good hard-working people who both know how important coal is to their way of life but yet also know that it comes with dangers and risks to those very lives. It is a clash which the film balances very well as it makes us understand how important it is to continue, but yet also how it is damaging too. The film wisely makes it about the people – there are no political views or environmental points scored here, but just the people.

The use of talking head contributions is well used to convey this message and I also liked the footage for its staged shots, natural shots and also its attention to detail (the black nails, for example). It is a very balanced and engaging character piece and, although your own politics will make you lean one way or the other, it is worth seeing for the foundation it builds to allow you to do that.

The documentary is a form of non-fiction storytelling that aims to present factual information, insights, and perspectives on real-world subjects, events, issues, or people. Documentaries can cover a wide range of topics, including history, science, culture, social issues, nature, biographies, and more.

Dziga Vertov in Man with a Movie Camera (1929)

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

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Born Into Coal

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