Search - The Pennsylvania Miners' Story on DVD

Real Life Thrills

drebbles | Arlington, MA USA | 04/12/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This made-for-tv movie is based on a real life incident in 2002, when nine Pennsylvania coal miners were trapped for three days when water flooded their mine. Partially shot at the Quecreek mine, where the accident happened, this movie is a realistic look at what the miners had to do to survive, as well as what their families went through while waiting for the miners to be rescued.

At just 90 minutes long, this is a fast paced and thrilling movie. The miners and their families are introduced in quick segments at the beginning of the movie and then the film moves right into the mine flooding and the miners struggle to say alive. The film alternates scenes in the mine with scenes of the miners families waiting at the fire hall for news of their loved ones.

The filmmakers do a good job filming the scenes with the trapped miners to the point where I felt claustrophobic watching some of the mine scenes. Even though I knew the miners all got out safely, I was on the edge of my seat watching them struggle in the water. The scenes with the families are, with one or two exceptions, emotional without being cloying.

I really enjoyed this movie and recommend it to fans of movies based on real-life events.
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