The Bituminous Coal Queens Of Pennsylvania (Documentary)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C- Feature: C+
At first,
because we are in the middle of an entire cycle of mockumentaries, you don’t
know if you are being swindled or conned when watching the David Hunt/Jody
Eldred release The Bituminous Coal
Queens Of Pennsylvania (2004) about the dreams of small town residents who
want to go from the dying industry around them to show business. In part, because so many such mockumentaries
have created an unfair stereotype of small town persons as dumb, ignorant and
unaware.
Why? Can such writers and filmmakers think they
don’t get newspaper, cable or satellite in small towns? Is it the reactionary left getting nuts? Is it a President Bush transference? Whatever the case, this pleasant production
is the true story of a small town in Southwestern Pennsylvania called
Carmichaels (Population 556) where coal mining was a peak industry in its day. The town has become a hybrid of traditional
old and new. The 50th
Anniversary of the Coal Queen Pageant in 2003, continuing long after the peak
of that industry, brings on a celebration of showbiz, the people of the
community and its roots.
The
result is a laid-back work of about 90 minutes that reminds us of how people
can be happy and have peace of mind that most in an over-mediated techno-age
might be quick to write off. However, at
a time when most had jobs, a living wage and the big family game was bowling,
maybe there is a reason to reconsider.
In this case, coal was so popular that people would have it in their
fireplaces and ashes from it and the like were used on snow and ice before salt
was commonplace.
To the
creators’ credit, everyone comes across as kind and dignified for the most part
and we get an increasingly rare look at an America sadly going into the sunset
and not because of some stupid liberal/conservative dichotomy. Instead, it is because we have lost far too
many industries and it is a situation being made worse by certain individuals simply
to destroy any sense of community (especially for those who confuse community
with communism or tell us lies & myths about liberty over liberalism). Actress Sarah Rush is the center of the tale
here and she is often charming.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is on the soft side, but the mix of
occasional older footage puts this into the documentary category where you get
a mix of all kinds of footage. The Dolby
Digital 5.1 mix simply spreads out simple stereo except for the occasional music
piece or sound effect. The combination
is professional and just fine. The only
extra is an update on the participants.
- Nicholas Sheffo
