Watch White Earth

White Earth is a 2014 documentary film that explores the impact of the North Dakota oil boom on a small town in the state. The film takes place in the winter of 2013, during a time when thousands of workers flooded into the region in search of work in the oil industry. The documentary is directed by J. Christian Jensen and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject.

The film focuses on three main characters: a young boy named Isaac, a single mother named Kylene, and an oil worker named Chad. Isaac lives with his family on a farm outside of the town of Tioga and dreams of becoming an astronaut. Kylene lives in a tiny, run-down apartment with her two young children and struggles to make ends meet. Chad is an oil worker who has come to North Dakota from Texas in search of a better life for his family.

Throughout the film, the three characters' lives intersect and their stories are interwoven with stunning shots of the North Dakota landscape. The documentary aims to capture the impact of the oil boom on the lives of its subjects, as well as on the rural communities in the region.

Isaac serves as the film's narrator and his voiceover provides the film's emotional anchor. He speaks to the camera about his dreams of becoming an astronaut and how the oil boom has changed his home. He explains that while he used to be able to see the stars clearly from his farm, now the night sky is lit up by the constant flaring of gas from the oil wells.

Kylene, meanwhile, faces the daily struggle of trying to provide for her children in a town where the cost of living has skyrocketed. She works at a casino and dreams of being able to move her family to a safer environment. The film also explores the darker side of the oil boom, including the prevalence of drug use and the increase in crime that has come with the influx of workers.

The film's depiction of Chad shows the struggle of an outsider trying to make a home in a new place. Chad has left his family behind in Texas and lives alone in a cramped trailer while he works long hours at the oil site. He speaks candidly about the isolation he feels and the toll that the demanding work takes on him.

As the film progresses, the lives of the three characters become increasingly intertwined. Kylene and Isaac's families help Chad when he becomes stranded in a snowstorm, and Chad in turn helps Isaac's family when their oil drill breaks down. These moments of kindness and cooperation offer a glimmer of hope in the midst of the uncertainty and upheaval of the oil boom.

The film's cinematography is one of its standout features. The stark beauty of the North Dakota landscape is captured in sweeping shots that reveal both the vastness of the region and the ways in which it has been altered by the oil industry. The film also uses time-lapse photography to show the incredible speed at which the oil wells are being constructed and the impact that this is having on the environment.

Overall, White Earth is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary that sheds light on the complex and far-reaching impact of the North Dakota oil boom. Through its portrayal of the lives of its subjects, the film offers a glimpse into the reality of living in a region undergoing rapid and dramatic change. It's a must-watch for anyone interested in the environmental and social impact of the oil industry on rural communities.

White Earth is a 2014 documentary with a runtime of 20 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2.