MovieChat Forums > The Overnighters (2014) Discussion > You must see this documentary!

You must see this documentary!

posted 10 years ago by myownspark
16 replies | jump to latest

Just saw this at the True/False Film Festival in Columbia, MO...best film of them all. So compelling, layered, complicated. Many docs can be so cerebral, this one was one for the heart. Fascinating portrait of an incredibly brave and loving pastor and his family who step out to the very edge to provide love and service to strangers, while the suspicions and fear of the community builds to the breaking point. At the same time it is a study of a man's journey to come to terms with his own long-buried demons. Excellent. An astounding film.

[–] eo_guy 10 years ago

I had no idea where this film was going when I started watching it, and was so surprised by the storyline and the narrative structure. A solid documentary!

- David

Breaking Down Bergman
http://www.youtube.com/breakingdownfilms

[–] mlone 10 years ago

I completely agree. I saw this at the Sundance Film Fest in January; it was my final movie of the festival and a great way to end my trip. Jay was present for the Q&A and got lots of love from the audience. Superb film.

[–] holdek01 10 years ago

So what is the deal with North Dakota? Does the documentary allege that all the news stories about high demand for labor are false?

[–] AtoZ2014 10 years ago

There is a high demand for skilled labor in North Dakota. The most employable people can get a job within 48 hours or so. For less-skilled labor it's more or less the same story you find anywhere in the US--high unemployment. Also, temporary housing is scarce and expensive, long-term housing in Williston area is very scarce and expensive, raising kids there is tough (far away from grandparents), and so on. The Overnighters does a good job of showing the human cost of these realities.

[–] holdek01 10 years ago

I've read news stories about McDonalds having to jack up their wages 66% from what they usually offer because they can't find enough labor there, though.

The housing scarcity makes sense, though, due to the influx of people.

[–] AtoZ2014 10 years ago

Still, some people will have trouble finding jobs in even a great job market. Registered sex offenders are an obvious example.

[–] holdek01 10 years ago

Perhaps it is the most desperate who moved to North Dakota...it's not exactly a popular destination (due to its remoteness, cold winters, etc). And the most desperate are those who know they face an even more uphill battle in a bad national economy if they have criminal records, for example.

[–] AtoZ2014 10 years ago

Based on the movie, lots of the most desperate have been moving to Willison. It's a relatively hostile environment--more that the locals don't welcome new people. The church, for a while, did provide a safe haven for them, which is the subject of the movie.

[–] holdek01 10 years ago

Yep, it looks interesting, and I look forward to seeing it!

[–] friendoffilm 9 years ago

Williston, ND is a hostile environment, given the super-cold winters and the hostility of the local people who really didn't want the 'overnighters' coming at all. One has be super-desperate in order to move to a place like that. It sounds as if the community finally said "Enough is enough!", when someone put up a sign in the church saying "The Overnighters' game is over."

[–] BugisStreetAnnie (1294) 6 years ago

I've read news stories about McDonalds having to jack up their wages 66% from what they usually offer because they can't find enough labor there, though.

That's probably true because jobs like that are more trouble than they're worth unless you live right down the street from your employment and can walk there. I have a cousin, and he hasn't worked in about 12 years because he's an unskilled worker and he would probably have to commute at least 20 miles to get to a job from where he lives (out in the boonies). His elderly mom supports both he and his wife on her Social Security retirement money.

[–] VanBooter 9 years ago

I got so far into into it and thought this is too much a god advertisement, but thankfully I stuck with it and wow what a surprise when there I was thinking maybe he's the one in a million priests who isn't.

[–] prchic79 7 years ago

Very funny!

[–] Stirchley 7 years ago

So the majority of priests in your opinion are gay?

[–] VanBooter 7 years ago

Ok a slight exaggeration on my part, I omitted to include paedophiles especially prevalent among the Vatican gang, who until just recently have enjoyed freedom and sanctuary to practice the evil abuse of minors.

[–] SteveRes (474) 2 months ago

He wasn't a Priest/Catholic, he was a Protestant Pastor.

I'm amazed anyone could watch this and see a "brave and loving Pastor". All I saw was a man with an enormous ego who betrayed his vows as a Pastor and indeed betrayed his whole family with his extra-curricular choices. The scene where he stood there sobbing as the overnighters all told him how wonderful he was almost made me vomit. As for allowing registered sex offenders to stay in your home where your young daughters sleep is frankly astonishing and not in a good way. The guy was an absolute tool.