There are documentaries about interesting subject matter that just on their face make you want to dive in and find out more about them and then there are documentaries that feature interesting people and no matter the subject you have to follow these people to some kind of resolution.  I found The Overnighters to be a little bit of both but more so the latter.  On it’s face The Overnighters seems to be more of an examination of the American economy and the dream of jobs but we soon find ourselves compelled to follow the one man who seemingly feels the need to give aide to those left behind.

We are almost immediately introduced to Pastor Jay Reinke and his Overnighters program.  You see, there’s a problem in the small town of Williston, North Dakota and the local population wants nothing to do with it.  Fracking done in the state has opened an enormous oil field and in the process job opportunities, so as the American economy struggles and jobs are scarce to find when word spreads that jobs are readily available thousands of unemployed flood into the small town.  Some are hired but what is to be done with all of the others?  Some come equipped to take care of themselves or have made arraignments but for all of the others the small town simply can’t accommodate them and they turn to the church.  The Pastor has set up a program where people in cars and RV’s can stay in his parking lot and others without can spend the nights at the church and are served meals and almost become their own community.  Reinke comes under fire however, while he is serving his own beliefs of helping those in need, there are locals who these job seekers as invaders and undesirables.  The town looks to put an end to the program but as Reinke argues, then where do these people go?

The film raises many relevant questions and as we meet many of the men the answers become more difficult.  Many of those traveling from all over the country are simply men looking for a way to support their families and even the slight possibility of employment is worth it, but others bring with them criminal records and violent pasts that could threaten those local families and their safety.  What we mainly see is the struggle of one man to make a difference in his community and stay right with his faith.  Pastor Reinke feels compelled to help those in need but in doing so feels like he’s failing his family and those around him.  As it’s exposed that some of the men have questionable pasts, he takes them into his home, hoping to keep them out of sight and out of mind of those living around the church.  The old adage, you can’t make everyone happy is well on display here.

As the movie comes to a conclusion, we learn more about Pastor Reinke and his motives and the film takes a different direction but I couldn’t get past the central conflict of seeing one man try to help so many others in the face of a community that wanted nothing to do with them.  What we’re left with are the faces of the men affected by both our economy and also shunned by those who benefit from it.

Recommend? Yup!