FOREST COAL PIT

Two elderly brothers live together on a small farm in Forest Coal Pit. This super 8mm portrait explores the mundanity, vibrancy and intimacy of their relationship and hyperlocal world. As they feed their livestock, tend to their garden, the brothers discuss elephants in China, lobster fisherman, ghosts and each other.

Forest Coal Pit is a 15 minute documentary film by Siôn Marshall-Waters. It is a beautifully tender portrait of two elderly brothers Laurence and Denva Green who live and work on their small family farm in the valley of Forest Coal Pit in the Brecon Beacons, Wales. Filmed on location in 2021 in super 8 mm the film humorously captures different aspects of their life and their relationship with each other.

I worked as location sound recordist, sound editor and designer. The film is structured around recorded conversations with the brothers and the sound design is created entirely from field recordings in and around Forest Coal Pit: their house and farm, the local chapel and Patrishow church, hilltops and woodland.

Forest Coal Pit was directed and filmed by Siôn Marshall-Waters, produced by Jesssica Wheeler, and edited by Dylan Goch. Commissioned by Ffilm Cymru Wales and BFI Network in association with BBC Wales. Screened at Edinburgh International Film Festival 2022, Borderlines Festival 2022, Alchemy Festival 2022, EUNIC London 2022, Flatpack Festival 2022. Shortlisted for a Grierson Award 2022. Special mention at Cork International Film Festival 2022. Winner of Best Film at Swedenborg Film Festival 2023.