What made you want to tell the story of the American miner?

Coal played an integral role in the US’ rise as a global power, and today it’s a dying industry with a toxic legacy—few would dispute that. But lost in a lot of the scapegoating are the mining communities that have sacrificed so much and been left with so little. If coal’s days are numbered, the transition to a new economy in depressed, neglected parts of coal country needs to be actively supported, not forsaken. To paraphrase one interviewee, “We understand that we have to move on, we just don’t wanna to be choked out.” 

What makes this story an ongoing issue in the US?

Black lung disease is coming back with a vengeance. As the coal industry fades, a public health crisis is gathering in Appalachia that will saddle already struggling communities with a huge social burden. Coal companies and their enablers in power who claim to champion the working class shoulder a lot of responsibility. Yet they continue to downplay the crisis and undermine miners’ efforts to secure health care and compensation. Greater awareness, accountability and investment are needed right now.

What did you find most challenging about telling this story?

Appalachians – and coal miners in particular – are often reduced to caricatures in the media. They are, rightfully, wary of outside journalists who come in for short periods and purport to understand the region and its culture. So in our interviews and dealings with miners, we tried to stress that we had no political agenda, no hard thesis that we needed to bear out in our film. If anything, we wanted to muddle stereotypes by sharing personal, unfiltered stories that highlighted both the gift and the curse of coal. And we were graciously received by all. 

Was there anything about this story that surprised you?

The scale and severity of the black lung epidemic. It’s bad, and will only get worse as desperation pushes the industry to mine areas where coal seams are mixed with silica-rich rock, a dangerous combination. Also, the remoteness of eastern Kentucky – we had no reliable phone or internet connection for much of our trip. 

Do you believe public knowledge of the miners’ plight will help their cause?

I like to think so. Whatever one’s politics, the staggering toll of black lung and environmental degradation should be alarming to everyone. But in the current climate -- with the country polarized and media consumed in silos that tend to confirm biases rather than challenge them -- I’m not sure the miners' message will resonate as widely as it should.