Building on Tainted Soil is a documentary by Anneleen Ophoff that explores America’s history of Native boarding schools. Using her experience as an award-winning journalist, Ophoff dives into the first-hand history of America’s open secret, interviewing three generations of Native Americans whose cultures and languages were systematically decimated by the over three hundred and sixty boarding schools across the country. This CineCulture Official Selection looks not just to history, but to today, outlining how past abuses create the struggles of the present, robbing today’s Native people not only of their cultures but of their elders’ affection. Building on Tainted Soil uses a modern psychological understanding of trauma to address the multigenerational effects of America’s native genocide.
Perhaps the only big issue with this documentary is its distracting sound design. Building on Tainted Soil makes an excellent choice to spotlight native performers by using their music as a soundtrack, but the implementation is clumsy: We go from a heart-wrenching moment of watching an old woman break down in tears recounting the abuses she faced as a child only to be thrown into loud metal riffs, post-punk anthems, or ear-battering rap tracks. However, this clumsy style does little to dampen the overall impact of the film. Building on Tainted Soil is an excellent breakdown of America’s native genocide from its first implementations after the Civil War through the reforms of the 1970s and as an even more efficient glimpse into modern native culture.
If you’re looking for a well-rounded native documentary to bulk up your Native American documentary collection, Building on Tainted Soil is an excellent choice. If your library serves a college community with a healthy history department, this documentary would be a perfect resource for instructors looking for titles that sum up Native American history without overlooking the existence of modern Natives and culture. Highly Recommended.
Where does this title belong on public library shelves?
"Building on Tainted Soil" would be best placed on public library shelves dedicated to Native American studies or history documentaries. It could also be categorized under environmental justice, as the title suggests a focus on issues that may affect Native lands.
What kind of college instructor could use this title?
In terms of college instruction, professors teaching Native American history, post-Civil War American history, environmental history, or courses on indigenous rights could use Building on Tainted Soil as an educational resource. It could be especially valuable for classes discussing the impact of U.S. expansion and policy on Native American communities, land issues, and environmental degradation. Additionally, it could be utilized in anthropology, sociology, and political science courses that explore the intersection of history, culture, and policy.
Director's Bio
Anneleen Ophoff (1990, Belgium) is a crossmedia journalist with a passion for human rights. While she currently focuses on indigenous rights, land rights, and LGBTQ+ rights, she has previously produced award-winning stories on domestic terrorism and foreign fighters. She has worked for the Flemish-Belgian public broadcaster VRT, VICE News, and the European media consortium ENTR, and was the editor-in-chief of the independent magazine Are We Europe. When she was awarded a Fulbright Award in Journalism, she had the opportunity to spend six months at the School of Journalism of the University of Missouri. One of the stories she produced there looked at inequality during and after natural disasters, and was awarded the Mark of Excellence by the US-based Society of Professional Journalists. The other, a TV documentary, examined the generational trauma caused by the US’s boarding school policy for Native American children. She currently splits her time between Brussels, the Belgian capital, and Cambodia.
Click here to purchase Building on Tainted Soil on DVD for $24.95
Click here to purchase Building on Tainted Soil on DVD w/ PPR for $200
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Film Festivals
- Official Selection – CineCulture Film Series, US
Click here to download the Building on Tainted Soil Study Guide
Click here to download the Building on Tainted Soil Press Kit
For purchase orders, to book screenings and for other inquiries, please contact:
Larry Rattner - larry@epfmedia.com