MovieChat Forums > The Town That Was (2007) Discussion > The modern day 'Harlan County, USA'... a...

The modern day 'Harlan County, USA'... a great film about America


I doubt this will ever get the notices that the bigger documentaries get, which is unfortunate, because this is important in the same way the great documentaries have been. In the 70's we had "Harlan County, USA", in the 80s we had "Roger And Me". In the 21st century we have "The Town That Was". I was fortunate to be able to watch the entire film online, but am alarmed at the quality and symbolic urgency of the film, considering I watched it for free, and that it only has 11 'likes' on Facebook. This truly gives a current historical record of America in a way that no other film has in a while, and I will tell every historian and documentary buff about it from now on. It isn't perfect, but not many films are. If any of the citizens of Centralia and its surroundings see this, please email me at [email protected] and let me know how to get the word out. I was interested by the wikipedia entry, and because of this film, I know the personal toll it took on the locals. I now feel that it is an important lesson and symbol of what this country needs to improve upon. It isn't only the coal fire- it's how the country reacted. I grew up in a small town, and though I left it, I still love it, and feel the government (no matter what party is ruling it) would not hesitate to just shut it down in the wake of a disaster. Centralia and New Orleans stand one and the same. We cannot let big government fully control the money that taxes allow them anymore.

PS - both Democrat and Republican presidents were in house between 1960 and 1990, and both parties had elects considered 'ineffecient' or worthy. So this clearly is not a party matter.

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