The Miners' Hymns is an homage to the history of coal mining in northeast England. It uses rarely seen archival footage of the city of Durham and its coalfield, showing the social, cultural, and political aspects of an extinct industry. Structured around a series of activities, including the hardship of pit work, the role of trade unions in fighting for workers’ rights, the annual Miners’ Gala, and battles with the police during the 1984 strike, the film cuts between footage spanning 100 years. With thanks to Bill Morrison for the loan of his film. (Bill Morrison, 2011, digital, 52 minutes)
Followed by Louisiana Story, Robert Flaherty’s iconic documentary feature. Produced by the Standard Oil Company, the film follows the practice of midcentury oil extraction alongside the fictionalized day-to-day life of a young Cajun boy who bears witness to that unrelenting expansion. (Robert Flaherty, 1948, 35mm, 79 minutes)
With thanks to the Library of Congress for the loan of their 35mm print.
Part of the Unearthed: Mining on Film series, programmed in conjunction with the exhibition Beneath the Surface: Mining and American Photography.