The Last Sin Eater was truly an amazing Appalachian film about Welsh immigrants who lived in Appalachia in 1850. I borrowed the DVD from the local public library, thinking that it was a sequel to another film that I enjoyed quite a bit, “The Order,” starring Health Ledger. Instead, it is a Fox Faith feature film directed by Michael Landon Jr. based on a novel by Francine Rivers. And what a wonderful surprise!
Pictured above - George Daugherty and Bill Henthorn
George Daugherty, The Earl of Elkview,and about 50 other people came to the first theatrical showing of one of WV’s best Hollywood films, “Fools Parade,” last night at the South Charleston Museum. I have been waiting 30 years myself to present the film in Charleston, and had a great time. (more…)
The Bituminous Coal Queens of Pennsylvaniais definitely one of the top ten documentaries I have ever seen on the world of small-town Appalachia. It is hilarious, touching, fast-moving, beautiful - it has it all! I have been reading about it for a while, and while checking out the new DVDs at the Kanawha County Public Library saw it listed, and reserved it on-line. ( I also received “Venus” from KCPL - also one of the best films I have seen recently, and one of the most poignant films ever made about the life of a man facing death after a life as a famous actor - perfectly played by Peter O’Toole.)
Henry Louis Gates, Jr., one of West Virginia’s most famous native sons, will be returning home in October to serve as the Appalachian Writer in Residence at Shepherd University. On Monday, October 1 at 4 PM he will present an episode of “Eyes on the Prize” called “Awakenings” and then present at 7 PM the same day “Wonders of the African World.”
Jason Brown, visiting from Greensboro, brought by a copy of “The Town that Was, “a new documentary about Centralia, Pa., the town that started on fire. Friends of his made the 71 minute film that truly showed what it was like to lose your hometown to a sudden disaster.
Ross Ballard, the leader of WV’s only audiobook company, has been leading the nation with his super-high quality versions of WV, and other, books. ForeWord magazine recently published this survey of the new super-high quality audiobooks now available. Unfortunately, the WV media have refused to pay any attention to one of our own. Hopefully many more West Virginians will learn about Mr. Ballard and MountainWhispers.com. (more…)
Robert Kennedy Jr, one of the leading environmentalists in the world, flew into Charleston on Monday, July 17th. Several people I know knew about his “secret trip” but I was surprised that none of the local media except CBS TV, WOWK, had a story about his discussion with Bill Rainey, president of the WV Coal Association.
My old friend from Minneapolis has a new book coming out - “Documentary Film: A Very Short Introduction” from Oxford University Press. She sent me this list and said, “Here is my top 100 page from that book . It’s not my personal top favorites but a recommended list of 100 films that taken together provide a decent education in what is a doc…. !”
Larry Gibson Arrested at the State Capitol
It’s official - the new film is “in progress.” The working title is “Rise Up West Virginia.” The following web page is THE BEGINNING.http://patchworkfilms.com/wvhills.htm
Robert Tinnell returned home to his native Fairmont several years ago and wrote an award-winning, best-selling graphic novel, “The Feast of Seven Fishes.” Last December Fairmont made it an official celebration. You can see the new trailer for the 2007 celebration and watch footage from the 2006 event on YouTube.
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