THE OVERNIGHTERS

THE OVERNIGHTERS is gifted from the start with something that many great documentaries have at their disposal or at least stumble in on and that is an environment in a particular time frame that is just looking for its story to be told.

The setting here is North Dakota whose economy is suddenly booming due to fracking which increases the ability to drill for oil.  This resulting boom has created a migration from other states of those seeking work. THE OVERNIGHTERS deals with one small ND town Williston and the pastor of the local Lutheran church Jay Reinke as he attempts to give temporary shelter to those who don’t have a place to live either inside the church itself or in the church parking lot until finally he is tripped up by scandal and by the city using various mean (fire code violations for one) to shut him down. 

This is told through following Reinke around as he cajoles, lobbies, ministers, pleads, argues all towards keeping his charitable endeavours afloat.  We also meet some of the people who emigrated here and find out the reasons why and what their goals and aspirations are.  We get background information about the views of the Williston permanent community towards those they say are criminal vagabonds.

I was left with negative feelings towards the town people the same thing I feel towards towns in America that criminalize feeding the homeless.  I wrote about one such town in Florida and a very brave man named Arnold Abbott here http://rgdinmalaysia.blogspot.com/2014/11/i-support-arnold-abbott.html  “There are but for the grace of God go I”

Underneath this modern day updating of the Grapes of Wrath (North Dakota is like California for the wretched people here) is a bigger story about income inequality in America and everything unfair about present day America is here from drug abuse to unfair sexual offender laws to even a little about racism and age discrimination.

Director Jesse Moss does something that only a seasoned documentarian knows how to do.  He takes this story and turns into a gripping tale, almost a thriller in that you are on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next.

My only complaint is the revelation about Pastor Rienke that comes in the last ten minutes.  It is dramatic and shocking but to me seems unrelated other than the pastor continually repeating “everyone is broken” and a few people he has fallen out with attacking him as “not honest”.  It detracts and distracts from the overall story – should be another movie, it’s a big enough topic.  Maybe only those who are aware of their imperfections can minister to the imperfect masses?