This documentary follows the history of Queensland's coalfields. It showcases 150 years of bitter industrial politics, struggle and tragedy over one of the world's richest energy resources. Multiaward winning, Blood on the Coal has amongst others received the
Award of Excellance at both the Indie Fest International Film Festival and the Accolade Global Film Competition as well as the
Gold Award at Worldfest Houston.
BLOOD ON THE COAL TRAILER from Jeff Bird on Vimeo.
Blood on the Coal ultimately traces the story of the industry's darkest days in the 19th century to the challenges of safety and community with today's global corporations. This is a harrowing tale of struggle, mateship, tragedy and injustice. There are underground disasters, stories of heroic rescues, a history of strikes and ongoing industrial turmoil.
The film was produced by the
CFMEU Queensland Mining and Energy Division (union) and Matilda films. It focuses on individual stories, such as the story of Queensland Miner's Union veteran 94 year old Digger Murphy. The filmmakers were unable to fit all the diverse stories in the documentary and have made extra featurettes available on its
website.
49 National Coal Strike featurette
These are anecdotes of how the miners and their communities have survived the harsh reality of the mining industry. There is humour and compelling honesty amidst injustice and the human price of mining. Negligent governments and corporal greed have made the miners and their families the faces of the real cost of mining. The film also touches on the current push to replace the local workforce with a more compliant travelling workforce.
Blood on the Coal -The Queensland Miner's Story will screen in select cinemas from the 12th of August.