Of the many fascinating aspects of Appalachia, the people are perhaps the most interesting. A strange marriage of diversities and commonalities, every hill and holler (get it?) has its own special people and places. Appalachia is represented in tonnes of films, even if just incidentally. And, aware or not, it’s shaped the country’s view of the region, and the region’s view of itself. Unfortunately, that’s resulted in an underrepresentation and misrepresentation of who we are.
A couple years ago, Athena Cinema started a new event series: From the Hills & Hollers: Appalachian Stories. Part movie night – part anthropology lecture, experts discuss everything from goofy comedies with country folk to hard-hitting documentaries with real people. This year’s picks span the gauntlet:
TUCKER & DALE VS. EVIL with Dr. Tiffany Arnold
Viewing: 12 October
Tucker & Dale vs Evil is a 2010 dark comedy horror film about two West Virginia hillbillies who are mistaken for murderers by a group of college students. The film follows the two men as they try to survive the onslaught of the students, while also trying to clear their names. The movie is equal parts suspense, horror and laughs.
Dr. Tiffany Arnold is an Assistant Professor in the College of Health Sciences and Professions where she coordinates the Appalachian Studies Undergrad and Graduate Certificate Programs. She studies media portrayal of Appalachia and how people should think critically about those cultural narratives. She’ll discuss how Tucker & Dale vs Evil contributes to and/or counteracts those perceptions.
MATEWAN with Christy Zempter
Viewing: 9 November
Matewan is a 1987 American drama about the coal miners' strike in 1920 in Matewan, a small town in the hills of West Virginia. The film follows a union organizer who comes to town to help the miners fight for better working conditions and wages. The miners are faced with violence from the coal company and the local law enforcement, but they remain united in their fight for justice.
Christy Zempter is an Assistant Professor of Communication at Shawnee State University native to Appalachia. She’ll be discussing the history of the events the film depicts in “Bloody Mingo” County in the early 20th century, labor organizations in coal country West Virginia, and the struggle for equity that continues today.
KING COAL with Elaine McMillion Sheldon
Viewing: 8 February
King Coal is a new documentary that premiered at Sundance just this year. The film follows a coal miner's daughter as she explores the complex relationship between coal and the people of Appalachia. She examines the history, culture, and environmental impact of coal mining in her region. The film is a lyrical and moving portrait of a region in transition.
Elaine McMillion Sheldon is a West Virginia native and an Academy Award-nominated, and Emmy and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker. She even directed the Netflix documentaries Heroin(e) and Recovery Boys, which explore the opioid crisis. She’ll be discussing this new documentary, King Coal.
OCTOBER SKY with Dr. Amy Wolfe
Viewing: 21 March
October Sky is a 1999 biographical drama based on the memoir Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam Jr. The film tells the story of four teenagers in a coal mining town in West Virginia who are inspired by the launch of Sputnik I to build their own rockets instead of following their parents’ and community’s inevitable path down into the coal mines.
Dr. Amy Wolfe has worked in the environmental sciences of West Virginia for nearly 30 years. She specializes in watershed restoration in areas that have been impacted by mine drainage. Her work has focused on the West Virginia branch of the Susquehanna, giving her insight into the impact of coal mining on the Appalachian foothills.
CALLS FROM HOME: PRISON RADIO IN APPALACHIA with Sylvia Ryerson
Viewing: 18 April
Calls From Home: Prison Radio in Appalachia, is a documentary film about the Calls From Home radio show in rural Kentucky. “Calls From Home” sends messages and shoutouts from families to prisoners across Central Appalachia, cultivating connections with the incarcerated. Sylvia Ryerson is both the radio show host and the director of the film.
Sylvia Ryerson is a multimedia artist, radio DJ, and PhD candidate in American studies at Yale University. Previously, she co-directed and hosted “Hip Hop from the Hilltop & Calls from Home”, a nationally recognized radio show that broadcasts music and toll-free phone messages from family members to their loved ones who are incarcerated. She also co-directed “Making Connections News”, a community storytelling project documenting Appalachia’s struggle to transition past coal.And guess what? All these events are free to attend! So head down to historic uptown Athens and discover the intricate, unique and sometimes mysterious nature of Appalachia.