Rich Hill

Rich Hill doesn't shy from ugly portraits of poor, rural life: a powder keg borne out from years of parental absence and abuse, a troupe of nomads restless in search of a nonexistent American dream, a young man whose development was arrested by an act of sexual violence. This largely unromantic take on these boys' lives & futures, decontextualized from the social forces that shape them, fits uncomfortably w/ the film's ethereal visual sensibility & score, which tend to prettify everything.

I oscillated between somewhat interested and totally bored while watching this. It has some ignorant, boring, frustrating and irritating characters. I disliked the frequent bouncing between stories for no discernible reason except perhaps to break up the monotony of it. A story about the disadvantaged, poverty, and several people who don't feel special. A sad movie which attempts to make a statement, but seems to get lost in its message. Hard to watch, and even harder to enjoy.

Rich Hill follows a few kids living in rural Missouri. It chronicles the struggles the kids and their families have being poor in rural America. The three kids who were chosen by the filmmakers were different enough that they added interesting elements to the documentary. The families of the three kids were loving but struggling to keep themselves afloat. Harley and Appachey had overwhelming anger issues but Andrew felt like he is the most likely to find his way out of the misery.

Based on the screen shot and summary on Netflix streaming, was hoping for a cross between Gummo and a juggalo documentary. Did not meet expectations, but interesting enough in its own right.

Like any decently made documentary involving children, there are moments that are sad, and powerful. This is no exception. It's a story repeated a million times over, the chronically poor, the bad decisions, the little snatches of sunshine that punctuate their otherwise pointless existences. It won't leave you feeling good, or bad, just resigned.

Stark, lyrical, gritty, sympathetic -- this film left me (once again) in awe of the injustices of unfettered capitalism, systemic poverty, and the harsh realities of the "American Dream." Anyone who claims that one must merely "pull yourself up by the bootstraps" to make it in America should watch this film with open eyes and an honest heart.

America the beautiful. D: