Screening: May 11, 2014, 5pm
Running Time: 100 minutes
Directed by Jesse Moss
Synopsis:
When hydraulic fracturing unlocks an vast oil field in North Dakota’s Bakken shale, tens of thousands of unemployed men descend on the state with dreams of six-figure salaries. In the tiny town of Williston, busloads of newcomers step into the sad reality of slim work prospects and nowhere to sleep. Over at Concordia Lutheran Church, Pastor Jay Reinke is hell-bent on delivering the migrants some dignity. Night after night he converts his church into a makeshift dorm and counseling center.
But as broken men arrive in droves, the congregants sling criticism, neighbors get suspicious, and the town threatens an ordinance to shut Reinke down. When the Williston Herald gets wind that sex offenders are among Reinke’s “overnighters,” even the pastor’s supernatural determination can’t stop things from spinning out of control. How much will he sacrifice for his crusade of compassion? With unfettered access to electrifying and poignant moments, it’s impossible not to be riveted by the pastor’s dogged battle in a treacherous world where no man is immune to losing everything.
What the Critics Are Saying:
“A scenario with present-day echoes of “The Grapes of Wrath” yields perceptive insights into the way we view outsiders.”
–David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
“Moss lets his characters and their stories unfold, crafting a film from them intuitively through the right interview questions and the art of editing, but never placing a narrative on it that feels forced. In the end, we see bits and pieces of ourselves in both Reinke and the community members who feel invaded by outsiders.”
–Brian Tallerico, Film Threat
The Chicago Critics Film Festival 