Rich Hill

Once upon a time, Rich Hill, Missouri was a mining town with a lot of jobs and a lot of buzz. But since World War II, the coal has run out, and with it any way of making a living. In 2014, the population has shrunk to just 1,393. The shops have closed down, houses stand empty and whole streets are falling apart. This is where the teenagers Andrew, Harley and Appachey are growing up. The three boys have dealt with more than their fair share of suffering: constant moving, extreme poverty, parents with all kinds of problems, behavioral disorders and abuse. These boys belong to the underclass in a town that offers very little opportunity for improvement. Nevertheless, they still hope for better times. Andrew, who is very religious, is waiting desperately for salvation to arrive: “God has to be busy with everyone else.” Directors Tracy Droz Tragos and Andrew Droz Palermo follow the teenagers in their everyday lives: at home, in the school corridors and while roaming the decaying streets and wastelands. The boys talk openly and honestly about their lives, their dreams and their often-shocking pasts. All of this is filmed in a sensitive, respectful way. This is an America we don’t often see, although there are countless Rich Hills, full of boys like Andrew, Harley and Appachey.