‘King Coal’ documentary to open Aug. 18 at Cinema Art Theater

Opening Friday, Aug. 18, the Rehoboth Beach Film Society’s Cinema Art Theater will present “King Coal,” a moving documentary about the journey of a woman exploring the region where she lives.

A lyrical tapestry of a place and people, “King Coal” meditates on the complex history and future of the coal industry, the communities it has shaped and the myths it has created.

Filmmaker and narrator Elaine McMillion Sheldon reshapes the boundaries of documentary filmmaking, imagining the ways a community can re-envision itself, during her impassioned immersion into Central Appalachia, where coal is not just a resource, but a way of life. While situated in the regions under the reign of King Coal, where McMillion Sheldon has lived and worked her entire life, the film transcends time and place, emphasizing the ways in which all people are connected through an immersive mosaic of belonging, ritual and imagination. Emerging from the long shadows of the coal mines, the film untangles the pain from the beauty, and illuminates the innately human capacity for change.

Admission is $9 for film society members, $11.50 for general audience and $5 for students.

For all screening times and dates, and to purchase tickets, go to rehobothfilm.com or visit the box office from 12 to 8 p.m, Wednesday to Friday.