The overnighters
Languages
Closed-captioned.
Performers
Jay Reinke.
Publication Information
[Austin, TX] : Drafthouse Films, [2015]
Physical Description
1 videodisc (102 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in. + 1 booklet (unpaged : color illustrations ; 19 cm)
Audience
Not rated.
Summary
In the tiny town of Williston, North Dakota, tens of thousands of unemployed hopefuls show up with dreams of honest work and a big paycheck under the lure of the oil boom. However, busloads of newcomers chasing a broken American Dream step into the stark reality of slim work prospects and nowhere to sleep. The town lacks the infrastructure to house the overflow of migrants, even for those who do find gainful employment. Over at Concordia Lutheran Church, Pastor Jay Reinke is driven to deliver the migrants some dignity. Night after night, he converts his church into a makeshift dorm and counseling center, opening the church's doors to allow the "Overnighters" (as he calls them) to stay for a night, a week or longer. They sleep on the floor, in the pews and in their cars in the church parking lot. Many who take shelter with Reinke are living on society's fringes and with checkered pasts, and their presence starts affecting the dynamics of the small community. The congregants begin slinging criticism and the City Council threatens to shut the controversial Overnighters program down, forcing the pastor to make a decision which leads to profound consequences that he never imagined.
Notes
Title from container.
Originally released as a documentary in 2014.
Special features: Audio commentary with director Jesse Moss and Jay Reinke ; deleted scenes ; Follow-up interview with subject Jay Reinke ; theatrical trailer.