Review of The Town That Was (2007) by Tonypolito — 15 Aug 2010

Only sixty minutes and only mildly interesting.

One would think the story of a town, now abandoned, sitting atop a coal mine fire that's been burning uninterrupted since 1962 would make for interesting documentary.

And it IS interesting for 25 minutes, telling the basic events timeline. Yes, it's odd, compelling viewing, a mesh of asphalt streets criss-crossing over greenspace where nearly a thousand buildings once stood, now plowed under. And hearing former residents say they wish to return to Centralia someday--for their burial--is touching indeed.

After that, however, the filmmakers are unsuccessful in their search for more story worth telling. Much of the balance of the film focuses on one of the few remaining residents (Lokitis) who's, technically, squatting on his home, now owned by the government.

Far too much viewer time is devoted to watching him mow an entire street of empty lots, unlocking the cemetery gate each morning for visitors that never come, hanging Christmas lights on utility poles on Main Street for no one to see.

Lokitis' quirky stubbornness isn't informative viewing. Viewers will expect far more compelling muck-racking content (than there is) about what went wrong in Centralia. Instead of looking for it, the filmmakers assumed observing Lokitis would drive you to weep for the loss of Centralia.

By comparison, the demise of Flint, Michigan, told in "Roger & Me," is far more shocking and evocative of sympathy. Centralia, unlike Flint, died an orderly death, its residents relocated and well-reimbursed for their trouble.

Entirely worthless extras include a 3 minute bit where the viewer is shown the cracked foundation of a home sitting atop a coal mine - in another town.

RECOMMENDATION: OK for an hour of PBS on-air viewing, but not for your home theater queue.