The Fight for West Virginia: 'Running for the Mountains' | Green Film Festival of San Francisco 2024
Documentarians observe and report on what's happening with the environment in the Appalachia region.
Dear Moviegoers,
Finding a documentary that’s the right balance between narrative and journalism can be difficult, but Running for the Mountains does the trick. It covers the century-long story of West Virginia’s existential battle over coal mining and how it fits in with our collective present and future. Advocates & citizens, politicians & corporate suits, make up a narrative of greater good vs powerful indifference and articulates the argument for transitioning to cleaner energy with true blue independent reporting tactics. Dark money & dirty politics, fought by dedicated activists with cameras. This is what documentaries are meant to be.
Now, some of what Running for the Mountains shows and tells is already well-known to the choir that the film preaches to. There is one very important scene though, where the filmmakers follow two WV (West Virginia) activists to Washington D.C., on a mission to visit their representatives and drop off packages of paperwork outlining evidence of toxicity from mountaintop removal operations. In one such delivery, made to Congressman David McKinley’s Chief of Staff Mike Hamilton, we witness how, in the background, the man effortlessly drops the research papers into a trash bin. This moment, captured with a keen eye covering all angles of the situation at hand - not just the POV of the concerned citizens - is of urgent importance to the voting public at large. However, will movers, shakers, and constituents be interested?
They should be, of course. Outside of film festivals and independent grassroots screenings though, I fear that West Virginia’s tale of environmental & political corruption will only be seen by a marching few and not a moviegoing many. This is the struggle of independent filmmaking & distribution, not to mention insulated storytelling. While directors Julie Eisenberg & Babette Hogan weather the climate of big-muscle intimidation and small-minded leadership to showcase a not-so-pretty picture of our present, and do so with incredible gusto, their film, unfortunately, is too location-centric, being more leaflet than pages-long horror.
Running for the Mountains, even with faults outlined, maintains a brave & bold attitude for the truth, which is what matters most. Thug police, jerk politicians -hello, Joe Manchin - and carefree exploiters of labor are all exposed for what they do and who they are, all to the point of asking & answering why things need to change for West Virginia's health & well-being. At the cost of courageous people’s lives, the American industrial age drove through this great state, only to be forgotten & dumped decades later.
West Virginia deserves better, and moviegoers need to know. If you show it, they will come. Will Running for the Mountains overcome such obstacles? 3/5
Running for the Mountains screened at the 2024 Green Film Festival of San Francisco. The film can be viewed on their virtual portal until October 27th.
Thanks for reviewing this documentary, Bill. I think it sounds pretty interesting. Also, from your description, it appears the filmmakers put a lot of time and effort into making this film too. It's sad how streamers won't buy anything remotely political these days. Because of that, I wonder if I'll ever get the chance to see this documentary here in Nebraska.
I am from West Virginia - and became friends with the California filmmakers when they were here shooting. I am SO GLAD it has been completed and was thrilled with the result. Broad scope, big problems - and we are still living with ALL of them. The good news: Manchin will no longer be our Senator come January. The bad new: Jim Justice probably will be. Hope you will watch the film to see what this means for WV & this country.