Blood on the Mountain

Filmmakers Mari-Lynn Evans and Jordan Freeman's compelling documentary details the economic, ecological, and human damage created by reckless coal mining operations in West Virginia. Using a mix of archival footage, in-depth interviews with miners, and news reportage on the coal industry, the film looks at what happens when corporate ruthlessness is allowed to run amok. Much of the information here on the generational poverty that exists within coal country and the efforts by the mining companies to dilute the power of local unions will be familiar to those who have seen similar documentaries, most notably Barbara Kopple's Academy Award-winning masterwork Harlan County USA (VL-11/06). The filmmakers are especially skilled at documenting the occupational health problems that afflict the miners, as well as the wreckage that excessive mining has created on the state's environment—most tragically, the 1972 Buffalo Creek dam failure disaster that killed 125 and left more than 4,000 homeless. Also called to task here are West Virginia's politicians, whose allegiances are seemingly forged in coal company suites. A justifiably angry film about a continually debated subject, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)