"The American Experience" Troublesome Creek: A Midwestern (1995)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Directors:

Steven Ascher
Jeanne Jordan

Writers:

Steven Ascher (writer)
Michael Azevedo (writer)

TV Series:

"The American Experience" (1988)

Original Air Date:

1995 (Season 7, Episode 6)

Genre:

Documentary | Biography | Crime | History | War

Tagline:

Where one family takes a stand.

Plot:

Struggling to keep the family farm in the family.

Plot Keywords:

Iowa | Farm Crisis | Small Town | Auction | Family Relationships

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 6 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Bob Blankenship	...	Himself (auctioneer)
Dean Eilts	...	Himself (auctioneer)
Marge Harold	...	Herself
Gini Jordan	...	Herself
Grace Jordan	...	Herself
Jeanne Jordan	...	Herself
Jesse Jordan	...	Herself
Jiggs Jordan	...	Himself
Joe Jordan	...	Himself
Jon Jordan	...	Himself
James Jordan Jr.	...	Himself
Kim Jordan	...	Herself
Mary Jane Jordan	...	Herself
Pam Jordan	...	Herself
Russel Jordan	...	Himself
David McCullough	...	Host
Allen Smalley	...	Himself (auctioneer)
Tim Wolf	...	Himself (bank officer)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Atlantic, Iowa, USA

Company:

Forensic Films

Movie Connections:

Features "Lonesome Dove" (1989)

Oscar-nominated and deserving, too!

As out-of-step and controversial as the nominating committees for the Documentary branch of the Academy Awards are (failing to nominate notable documentaries like "Roger & Me", "Paris is Burning", and "Hoop Dreams" among countless others), they did good when they put "Troublesome Creek: a Midwestern" into the final five.

This is a heart-crushing, anger-inspiring, and all-too-real portrayal of the changing priorities in the United States, in regard to the role of family, farming, and small-town life. At the same time, it's an incredibly warm and even at times humorous film. At all times it's fascinating.

There is an incredible scene about a third through set at a livestock auction. If, like me, you've spent most of your life living in decidedly non-rural places you'll just be amazed to get a glimpse into a ritual that only decades ago would have been familiar to most Americans. Things have really changed, which is what this film is about. There is just a part of us that has an unwavering desire to fight to save a piece of earth, especially if we've got strong emotional attachments to the patch in question. At the same time, we're not merely fighting for a piece, we're fighting for our entire world as we know it.

The stark, folksy yet modern music of Sheldon Mirowitz is the perfect compliment to the direction, editing and cinematography of Jeanne Jordan and Stephen Ascher who, it should be noted, are not impartial documentarians; they're members of the family whose farm is threatened! The expansive Iowa landscapes are perfectly captured (I did live in that state for a few years myself), and if you thought the snowy frames added an extra sense of urgency to "Fargo", imagine how it could enhance the tension knowing the story's a true one! (For those of you fooled by the Coens' claim that their film was based on reality as well, consider that bubble bursted)

The only thing wrong with this movie is the fact that it's burdened by such an unwieldy, uncatchy, obscure title. But if you see the film you'll understand that its really the perfect title for this movie. Film buffs will be especially appreciative.