On Coal River
2010, 82 minutes
ON COAL RIVER follows a former coal miner and his neighbors in a David-and-Goliath struggle for the future of their valley, their children, and life as they know it.
Coal River Valley, West Virginia is a community surrounded by lush mountains and a looming toxic threat. Filmed over a period of five years, ON COAL RIVER follows a former miner and his neighbors in a David-and-Goliath struggle for the future of their valley, their children, and life as they know it. Ed Wiley once worked at the same coal waste facility that now threatens his granddaughter’s elementary school. When his local government refuses to act, Ed embarks on a quest to have the school relocated to safer ground. With insider knowledge and a sharp sense of right and wrong, Ed confronts his local school board, the state government, and a notorious coal company — Massey Energy — for putting his granddaughter and his community at risk. Along the way, Ed is supported by his neighbors Bo and Judy, who are locked in their own battle with Massey Energy over their practice of “mountaintop removal” — blowing up mountains to extract coal. Together, Bo and Judy help Ed bring attention to the dangers at Marsh Fork Elementary, hoping that if they save the school, they can save the valley. ON COAL RIVER has screened on Capitol Hill and at film festivals across the country, including Silverdocs, the Hamptons International Film Festival, Camden International Film Festival, and Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. The film won “Best Documentary” at the Appalachian Film Festival, “Best Feature” at the Lights. Camera. Help. Film Festival in Austin, TX, the “Koronisfest Award for Best Documentary” at Sidewalk Moving Pictures Festival, and the Appalachian Studies Association’s Spadaro Documentary Award. The film was nominated for an IFP/Gotham Award in the category “Best Film Not Screening at a Theater Near You,” and was shortlisted for the Ridenhour Documentary Prize.
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