THE MILL
directed by:
Charley Williams written by: Charley Williams genre: Documentary |
“These diligent workers are the guardians of a vanishing expertise, passed down from their forefathers, who learned it from theirs.” You factor in how beautiful the music that accompanies the scenes of “The Mill” onscreen, and you almost have to shake your head in disbelief when you realize you’re being moved by a film that’s essentially about a whole lotta wood. Have I had enough sleep? #Overemotional
Alright…I suppose it’s fair to say that “The Mill” is about more than the mere product we take for granted – it’s really about the history behind the Phillips Brothers Mill, which is hidden away from time somewhere within the Sierra Nevada. For real, I’d imagine that for most folks watching this documentary, people are gonna feel like they’re staring straight into the window of a time machine, observing the mechanics of machines that were used long ago. But that’s not the case either y’all – what you’re seeing onscreen as you watch “The Mill” is a crafted short story of a legacy that is proudly and humbly still operating to this very day. It seems like it’s so peacefully tucked away into the forest and the nature surrounding it that you have to wonder if any of the workers have even heard of threats like AI or if the only challenge they feel like they’re facing is that next cut on a big giant log coming in. My father-in-law was a steam engineer, and were he still around today, he would have absolutely loved seeing “The Mill” and how this whole operation continues to thrive amidst the modern-day world we’re living in. You can’t help but appreciate the impossible odds they’re defying. The Phillips Brothers Mill is a very tiny operation, especially when it comes right down to it, if you’re comparing it to big giant corporate conglomerates and whatnot. I mean, the place is running nearly entirely on steam and elbow grease! How many companies would even attempt to do that anymore? Therein lies the real beauty in a film like this one though…you can’t help but admire how nothing’s changed when it comes to how “The Mill” operates. Surely, they’ve probably changed more than a few belts that carry these giant logs here & there and sharpened many blades along the way over the near-century “The Mill” has been open, but other than the obvious maintenance aspects that need tending to, the rest of what you see, how this place moves in a rhythm from start to finish & all that…it’s the very definition of tried, tested & true. So let’s see here, let’s see…what do I think exactly? Well, I’ll start by saying I had no problem at all sitting for less than twelve minutes of this short documentary - and that I was both fascinated and amused by seeing how “The Mill” continues to do all that it does. I know what you’re going to say – they’re still just cutting lumber, aren’t they? Taking big wood and making it into smaller wood, as it were? And sure…I suppose I can’t really dispute that at the end of the day, but what I’d tell you after having a watch through this film is that you can liken an operation like this much more closely to that of a ballet than you’d probably ever assume, and the legacy of “The Mill” to its storyline behind the scenes. We’re talking about people…real salt of the earth, grounded, hardworking folks, all working together in a seamless rhythm and precision, all engineered & designed to get the maximum amount of product from a single log. You’ll see how the process takes you through from what was once a mighty tree all the way down to the sawdust left behind – and more to the point, you’ll see how it all gets used so efficiently. It’s that same sawdust that goes into a steadily maintained fire, which in turn creates the steam they need to power the machines to move and cut the wood they’re working with, so on and so on.
I do not know what created that first fire of “The Mill” with no sawdust to speak of at that time, so do not ask. I guess that’s one of those chicken & the egg type mysteries we’ll never know – but rest assured, somehow they got this whole operation fired up one day, and they’ve been genuinely careful to make sure that it has continued to burn brightly ever since as it passed down from generation to generation. I guess the real question is whether or not everyone out there is going to dig watching “The Mill” or if it’s just going to appeal to curious folks like myself who’ll sit and watch anything about something they don’t know anything about. Honestly, that’s a little harder to say if I’m being completely real with ya. I think my answer would come down to human nature’s natural aversion to learning when presented with a choice to do just about anything else, but I do think “The Mill” has some significant elements that could help it beat the odds in that regard. For example, the soundtrack immediately draws you in. After that, it’s not too long at all before you’re introduced to the comforting narration of Wayne Thompson to guide you along through this short & sweet snapshot of human history. You’ll also find the scenes are really well-shot & interesting to watch, and when coupled with the storyline of the Phillips Brothers Mill & the details provided by Writer/Director Charley Williams…well…you’ll discover an authentically quaint blend of magical nostalgia that’ll have you yearning for the simpler times of yesterday’s past. I feel like “The Mill” provides the comfort and confirmation of proving some things really are built to last, even when it seems like the rest of the world has moved on. “The Mill” might very well outlive us all, and you kind of end up cheering for that possibility as you watch this film. You want small businesses like this to continue to thrive. You want craftsmanship like this to never go away. You want stories like the legacy of the Phillips Brothers Mill to be part of the fabric of our DNA because it has earned its place in history. I didn’t feel like anything was left out…I didn’t feel like Charley Williams could have done anything better than what he did…and like any great documentary film or thing you learn about in life, you wanna find out even more about it on your own time after the experience. So yeah…I guess here I am today, telling you that a story about wood is a solid four stars out of five - and quite possibly could rank even higher than that for many of you who appreciate a well-done documentary – “The Mill” is a great film to watch. |
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