The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia

[dmclone]

If you like documentaries and no kids are in the house I'd recommend this. It's an eye opener in many ways.

 

[acgclone]

A little "color" on this documentary would be helpful. No pun intended, I just have no clue what it is about.

 

[b3r3m]

It's a documentary about this really rough family in West Virginia. Cameras follow them around for a year I think. It's really hard to believe at times. I thought it was pretty good. Johnny Knoxville was an exective producer on the documentary

 

[ajk4st8]

It is unreal awesome. You will go to bed feeling better about yourself.

 

[linkshero]

It is unreal awesome. You will go to bed feeling better about yourself.

It is very good. For those that are not familiar with the story, the White's are a family, not a race. They have a family tree that nearly only has one branch. It basically started with D Ray (mountain dancing legend, small acting rolls), and Bertie Mae (I suspect may have been psychopathic). D Ray died pretty young, gave his dancing shoes to Jesco White, his son.

The family probably suffers from inbreeding at some point along the way, in addition to low IQ's, limited education, and chronic substance abuse. Think if the small towns in Iowa that many are from, were buried in hills and forest, and had little or no influence from educators, or law enforcement.

It's pretty interesting, because they interview the 'normal' people in the area and aside from being scarred of them, they can't figure out how they survive. They say that none of them work, nor pretty much have ever worked, yet they always seem to have money.

 

[ajk4st8]

My guess is all their money comes from collecting disability (which they all admit) and selling drugs. I also wouldnt be surprised if Jesco made a good chunk with his dancing.

 

[ajk4st8]

The only down side of this film was seeing how these young kids never have a chance at a productive life.

 

[tman24]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3ysuG2O0zw]YouTube - Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia Trailer[/ame]

 

[sunset]

One of the town folk said it best when he explained they had a kid in town that was just excepted to M.I.T., the documentary would have been much better off focusing on him instead of the Whites. It's a pretty sad story about a very sad family. The kids in that family really have no chance in life.

 

[3TrueFans]

I assumed every family in West Virginia was like that?

 

[colbycheese]

YouTube - Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia Trailer

At the very end: "they are the true rebels of the South"... except WV isn't in "the South". Just saying.

When we drive back to Iowa from North Carolina, we have to drive through West Virginia on the way. We try to gas-up in Virginia and not stop until we reach the Kentucky boarder. WV is a scary place man.

 

[jj-cyclones]

Is this one Netflix yet? Or where have you seen it?

 

[kilgore_trout]

Definitely worth a look. Especially, if you're in the mood for spectacle.

Netflix has a stream available.

 

[3TrueFans]

Is this one Netflix yet? Or where have you seen it?

I think it is.

 

[dmclone]

I assumed every family in West Virginia was like that?

Stay classy.

I hope they don't assume everyone in the state of Iowa is a farmer.

 

[jj-cyclones]

I think it is.

I'll have to check that out, thanks.

 

[3TrueFans]

Stay classy.

I hope they don't assume everyone in the state of Iowa is a farmer.

Why do you hope that? Lots of people think that.

 

[dmclone]

Why do you hope that? Lots of people think that.

As you can see I said "I hope they don't"

 

[cstrunk]

As you can see I said "I hope they don't"

Is it that bad of a stereotype? As bad as thinking everyone from WV is like the Whites?

I don't think that's what you mean... but it just doesn't come off very well. :twitcy:

 

[cyfan964]

When I hiked the Appalachian Trail I was scared for my life hiking through West Virginia in the mountains with just me and my cousin. Luckily we made it out unscathed.