Company Town

About This Movie

Company Town (1983) takes you deep into the heart of Widen, West Virginia—a coal town that's a ghost of its former self. You feel the weight of history here, the slow pacing allows you to absorb the remnants of a once-thriving community. The documentary captures the stark reality of corporate takeover, and it’s fascinating how it sidesteps the usual tropes. The visuals are striking, with Leacock’s trademark observational style framing the town’s desolation beautifully. It’s not just about coal; it's about lives intertwined with industry and the fallout of capitalism. You can almost hear the whispers of the past echoing through the empty streets, and it lingers with you long after.

Documentary on coal mining communitiesObservation of corporate impact on American townsHistorical context of coal industry in the 1980s