Netflix Previews Its Boldest & Wokest Film Yet About a Trans Woman Battling the Patriarchy to Work in Coal Mines

Netflix is generating buzz again with a new movie called Queen of Coal, which tells the story of a trans woman who wants to work in the coal mines while facing a town steeped in superstition and patriarchy.

The film stars Lux Pascal, formerly known as Lucas Pascal, and is based on the real-life story of Carla Antonella “Carlita” Rodríguez, the first trans miner in Patagonia.

The movie is a Spanish-Argentine co-production directed by Agustina Macri and written by Erika Halvorsen and Mara Pescio.

It features a cast including Paco León, Laura Grandinetti, Romina Escobar, and several others. Filming took place in the Basque Country in Spain and in Patagonia, Argentina. According to Caramel Films, Queen of Coal will hit theaters in Spain on June 12, and in Argentina on October 2. You can check out the trailer on YouTube.

The film is also set to compete in the ‘Progressive Cinema Competition – Visions for the World of Tomorrow’ at the 20th Rome Film Festival in October 2025.

The story follows Carlita as she tries to earn a place in a male-dominated profession, breaking barriers in a job traditionally forbidden for women.

According to a review by Beatriz Martínez of Fotogramas, the movie is “an ode to resilience” and highlights Pascal’s performance, while she criticized Paco León’s character as the weakest part of the film.

As expected, reactions online have been mixed and often harsh. Some viewers joked, “He’s fighting against himself. Nice twist.” Others said it “sounds like peak virtue signaling meets mining simulator 2024.”

Some critics have been more direct, stating, “99% of Netflix product is garbage. Unsubscribe and put your money into something better.” Another comment poked fun at the premise, writing, “Since the dawn of coal mining, trans coal miners have faced the difficult choice: do I prance around in panties or go and dig?”

Some “reviews” were a bit more elaborate. “I’m sorry I can’t stop laughing at how re***** this premise is lmao. A dude troons out and his DREAM is to get black lung, but is held back by this horrifyingly oppressive, patriarchal society which apparently can’t bring itself to NOT call him a woman and let him get lung cancer and cough up blood until he dies. No, he has to suffer and not dig for coal in the pitch blackness of the underground, and work in the kitchens with the womenfolk. Queen of Coal, indeed lmfaooo.”

Queen of Coal isn’t entirely fictional. The story is based on real events. According to the Spanish-language outlet Anfibia, the film follows Carla Antonella Rodríguez, who is recognized as “the first transgender woman miner in Río Turbio” in Argentina. Rodríguez reportedly “managed to break the myth that prohibited women from working inside the mine.”

Local superstitions meant that “women could never apply for jobs inside the mine,” even though these positions were highly sought after. “Those positions were always the most coveted since the salary was higher than for surface work.” Somehow, by presenting as a woman, a man was able to challenge this taboo, opening the door for women to access the higher-paying mining jobs. Hmmm.

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