Devil Put the Coal in the Ground
Uniquely structured upon the personal storytelling of native West Virginians, Devil Put The Coal In The Ground is a meditation on the suffering and devastation brought on by the coal industry and it’s decline. From the realities of a crumbling economy, to the ravages of the opioid epidemic, to the irreparable environmental damage and its tragic impact on human health – the film is a cautionary tale of unfettered corporate power, and an elegy to a vanishing Appalachia.
Featuring the music of Steve Earle & Iris Dement
“Brilliant. Finely tailored. A subtle blend of pathos and urgency. DEVIL is such an honest film that it left me with hope, but also much sadness and anger. My hope is this anger can be channeled into action by people who can make change.” - Jerry Hartleben, Documentary Programmer Sedona Film Festival
”A masterfully conceptualized, deeply moving documentary that fearlessly and empathically dives into the complex entanglements between extraction, coal mining, the opioid epidemic, corporate greed, poverty, public health, and environmental degradations…Its web-like structure and gorgeous, carefully hewn cinematography rejects the voices of outside experts and instead makes space for the voices and resilience of everyday people living through these multiple crises, a searing history from below.” —Patricia Zimmermann, Director, Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival
“A powerful movie that hit close to my home. I wish everyone could see this film… a story that NEEDS to be told. A perfect example of why documentary is so very important!" - Mary Zunick, Hot Springs Film Festival (Work-In-Progress Screening)
AWARDS: 2022 Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital - AUDIENCE AWARD - BEST FEATURE FILM2022 Glimmerglass Film Days- AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD- BEST FEATURE FILM2022 Green Film Festival of San Francisco - JURY AWARD - BEST FEATURE FILM2022 Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival - BEST OF FEST2022 Queen City Film Festival - BEST APPALACHIAN FEATURE FILM 2022 Vaasa Wildlife Film Festival - AWARD FINALISTOFFICIAL SELECTION: 2020 Hot Springs Film Festival (Work-in-Progress)2022 DocsMX 2022 Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital2022 Lunenberg Doc Fest2022 Virginia Film Festival 2022 Ashland Independent Film Festival2022 American Film Festival 2022 Suncine: Environmental Film Festival2022 The CineEco - Serra da Estrela International Environmental Film Festival2022 Innsbruck Nature FIlm Festival 2022 Cinemaplanete 2022 Green Film Festival of San Francisco IndieFest2022 Sarasota Film Festival2022 Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival2022 Seoul International Eco Fest2022 California Capital Documentary Film Festival2022 Montauk Film Festival2022 The Albuquerque Film & Music Experience2022 Vaasa Wildlife Film Festival 2022 Glimmerglass Film Days 2023 Reframe Film Festival2022 Twins Cities Film Festival2023 Wild and Secnic Film Festival2023 Queen City Film Festival2023 Colorado Enviornmental Film Festival2023 One Earth Film Festival2023 Princeton Enviornmental Film Festival2023 Beloit International Film Festival
About the Film
When West Virginia broke away from Virginia in 1861 at the start of the American Civil War, its founders did not agree upon the Confederacy or the role of the state in the war. They were, however, united in their interests around the extraction and exploitation of the rich resources of the state – predominantly coal and timber – what would prove to be the dominant theme throughout the history of West Virginia.
"Devil Put the Coal" is holistic look at the impact of this legacy and the ravages of extractive industry and corporate power, as it has affected the people, communities and the environment of West Virginia. Consciously eschewing exploitive filmmaking around the opioid epidemic or poverty, the film focuses on its people – all linked by the love of their home state and desire to stay put against all odds.
By design, the film is structured upon personal storytelling from native West Virginians, drawing upon their rich experiences and diverse perspectives in order to create an informal “People’s History of West Virginia”. These individuals run the gamut – from recovering opioid addict, to environmental activist, to U.S. Congressional candidate, to town judge, to recovery center nurse, to corporate environmental lawyer, to struggling local business owner – all of whom, despite their differences, remain linked by the love of their home state and the challenges that threaten their survival, and way of life.
Uniquely paced and stylistically arresting, the film marries personal narrative with cinematic aerial footage, rare archival photography from DOCUMERICA luminary Jack Corn, bespoke animation and an original score that features the music of Steve Earle & Iris Dement – at once a meditation on the mystique of coal culture, a people’s resilience and deep connection to the land, and elegy to a vanishing Appalachia.
Director’s Statement
This particular film is very close to our hearts – a meditation on the struggles brought on by the coal industry and its decline, as told through the personal storytelling of West Virginians.
While we’ve seen powerful films that address mountain top removal, the opioid epidemic, environmental devastation, and the decline of the coal industry in West Virginia – we’d yet to see a film that explores their interconnection, and takes a holistic look at the impact of these myriad factors upon the people, the land, and the soul of a state that’s become a bellwether for the rest of the nation.
We strongly believe that the West Virginian communities featured in our film have made a deep sacrifice – they’ve put their lives and land in danger year after year to ensure our lights work, our refrigerators run, our industry is fueled, our wars are won. A nation has prospered, and generations of Americans have benefitted through these sacrifices. Now, the steep price and suffering that West Virginian’s have had to pay may, furthermore, serve to shine a light on dangers that threaten us all – be they environmental devastation, addiction, unfettered corporate behavior, regulatory capture, disease clusters, extractive industry, the battle for clean air & water, or economic disenfranchisement & despair. Don’t make the mistake of dismissing West Virginia’s suffering as issues that don’t apply to you or your community. If left unchecked – if allowed to metastasize as they have in West Virginia – they will be our problems as well. Yes, we live in the same house.
The West Virginian communities featured in our film have been exploited and neglected for years. It’s our aim to bear witness and to celebrate them, their culture, their pride & connection, their resilience & sacrifices – and with our film serving as a catalyst, play a role in supporting those communities, preserving those traditions, and bringing that awareness to a broader American consciousness.
Production Credits
Directed by Lucas Sabean & Peter Hutchison
Produced by David Kuhn, Peter Hutchison & Lucas Sabean
Edited by Lucas Sabean
Featuring the Music of Steve Earle & Iris Dement
Featuring the Photography of Jack Corn
Composed by Landon Knoblock
Graphics Design & Animation by Megan Toeynes
Cinematography by Mikey D’Amico & Justin Litton
Color Grade by Lucas Millard
Sound Mix & Design by Keith Robinson
Made with the generous support of the Rogovy Foundation
A Big Tent Production