The Overnighters
Documentary
Directed by Jesse Moss
Documentaries are seldom as compelling or fascinating as Jesse Moss’ story of broken American dreams in The Overnighters. An ailing U.S. economy forces hundreds of job hunters to trek across the country, from every state imaginable, to the bleak oilfields of Williston, North Dakota. Classes and cultures clash as local pastor Jay Reinke risks his career to give these huddled masses overnight shelter in the community’s church. It doesn’t take long for locals to voice concerns as crime and mistrust slowly begin to rise.
Reinke makes for a compelling and engrossing protagonist as he constantly deals with the challenge of helping his fellow man in a ubiquitously positive way while facing a mounting series of setbacks and criticisms as seeds of doubt begin to germinate in the tiny town.
What makes The Overnighters so effective is the transparency of the film; there is no hidden agenda here, just a simple peeling back of the layers to expose a seedy underbelly of fear and prejudice that act as a microcosm for U.S. culture and the problems plaguing its working middle class.
An assortment of characters are introduced, some with good intentions while others' motives remain murky.
Through it all, Reinke remains steadfast in his mission, even allowing a former sex offender to spend time under his own roof with his family. The film takes a dramatic left turn towards the end as The Overnighters proves to be a superbly crafted documentary that serves up a slice of rotten American apple pie.
