Goodbye Gauley Mountain

Directed by Beth Stephens and Gayle Rubin, Goodbye Gauley Mountain: An Ecosexual Love Story is a moving and thought-provoking film that seeks to bring to light the pressing issues of environmental destruction and the need for a deeper synchronicity between nature and humanity. Released in 2014, the film primarily revolves around two main characters, Beth Stephens and Annie Sprinkle, who set out on a journey to Beth's natal home of West Virginia.

Goodbye Gauley Mountain takes Beth Stephens's hometown of Gauley Bridge, in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, as its central point, both literally and metaphorically. Gauley Mountain, which gives the film its name, is under threat, not from natural forces, but from the human activity of mountain top removal (MTR). The impact of MTR is shown in an unflinching light, with stills and video of scarred landscapes and polluted rivers.

In the midst of this harsh reality, the on-screen chemistry between Beth Stephens and Annie Sprinkle helps to weave a narrative thread throughout the film, with their deeply personal connection to each other and the earth they cherish serving as the driving force behind their environmental activism. They coin the term 'ecosexuality' to encompass their radical reinterpretation of humanity's relationship with the planet. They seek to convert the traditional narrative of the earth as a resource to be exploited to that of a lover who needs to be respected, cherished, and protected.

Adding depth to this intimate journey are the insights and perspectives introduced by Paul Corbit Brown, a renowned environmental activist and photographer, and Larry Gibson, a grassroots environmentalist who, until his death in 2012, devoted his life to fighting for the protection of his ancestral home from the threats of MTR. The Earth, portrayed as a silent character, echoes the environmental message of the film through its powerful visuals of the rich beauty and fragility of nature.

The filmmakers use expressive storytelling techniques, juxtaposing stunning visuals of the Appalachian landscape with the brutal reality of its devastation due to MTR. The film is not just a plea for environmental preservation but also a love letter to the earth. It employs a blend of humor, pathos and a certain irreverent sexiness, communicating the consequences of ecological destruction while presenting a poetic and deeply personal response to mountaintop removal, thus avoiding the pitfalls of traditional environmental documentaries.

Goodbye Gauley Mountain is a documentary that serves as both a love story and a call to action for the viewers. It reflects upon man's complex relationship with Mother Earth, urging us to move beyond our anthropocentric understanding of the world to recognize the rights of the natural environment. To further this ecological connection, the film borrows from the visual aesthetics of performance art, poetry, and traditional storytelling to present an autobiographical account of one's complex relationship with home, heritage, and the sacredness of nature.

The film is visually striking, featuring a profound and poetic exploration of the stunning Appalachian landscapes, imbued with an underlying melancholy fueled by the harsh reality of the devastation brought about by mountaintop removal. Also, the poignant conversations with the locals and the powerful photographs of Paul Corbit Brown add a human element to the narrative, magnifying the emotional impact of the film.

Goodbye Gauley Mountain is far from your standard documentary. It is a nuanced and insightful statement about the interconnectedness of life, the eros of nature, and the urgent requirement for a symbiotic relationship with our environment. This emotive piece encourages its viewers to look within, to reevaluate their own relationships with the environment and to question the dominantly accepted norms of our society’s relationship with nature.

Overall, Goodbye Gauley Mountain is a must-watch for those seeking a deeper understanding and connection with the world we live in. It is a film that redefines traditional norms, replacing exploitation with love, and it succeeds in making the personal political by using the power of love, courage, and responsibility to stand firm against the relentless march of industrialization. The movie challenges its viewers, encouraging them to consider their place and role within the broader ecosystem, and to start defining their own, more harmonious and loving, "ecosexual" relationship with the Earth.