Going to school at Ohio University and living in Athens means you’re living in one of Ohio’s most prominent Appalachian regions, and the rich history associated with the area doesn’t go unnoticed. On February 8th, 2024, the Athena Cinema will be hosting its event, From the Hills and Hollers: King Coal with Elaine McMillion Sheldon from 7:00-8:30pm, which focuses on better understanding those Appalachian communities.
About the Series “From the Hills and Hollers”
From the Hills and Hollers is a series that the Athena Cinema began putting on in 2022, and with how successful it was, it has continued into 2024. The series, as the name implies, focuses on films that highlight the surrounding Appalachian regions around Athens in an attempt to create a better understanding of Appalachian culture and to take a holistic look at what it’s like to actually live in Appalachia, examining both the good and bad aspects of the area and lifestyle associated with it. Every film in the series includes a quick lecture—either before or after—from a prominent speaker that will give plenty of added context to the viewings.
What You Can Expect from King Coal
King Coal is a documentary that came out in 2023 and garnered plenty of positive attention from critics all across the board. The plot centers around—as the title implies—the pervasive hold that coal has on the culture of Appalachia and the impacts to the communities that have taken place as the economic power of coal begins shift and society as a whole turns their sights to more sustainable energy practices. The main story in the documentary follows a coal miner’s daughter who starts to learn of the importance of coal in her culture. The documentary also touches on the sometimes deadly conditions of working in coal mines, the unionization efforts of miners for better work conditions, and the unfair ways in which coal companies discriminated against miners who were people of color.
Elaine McMillion Sheldon, the director of the documentary, will be at the Athena Cinema before the film starts to give a brief introduction to her film and offer additional insights into the importance of the documentary and its creation. Like the other offerings in the From the Hills and Hollers series, tickets to the film are free, but seating space in the theater is obviously limited, so be sure to get to the Athena Cinema early to secure your spot. This is a documentary you wouldn’t want to miss!