No Man's Land

Cinema vérité filmmaker David Garrett Byars took cameras into the 2016 standoff in eastern Oregon between anti-government activists (particularly the family of maverick rancher Cliven Bundy) and the federal government (or anyone the activists perceived as representatives thereof). The (overwhelmingly white) militants occupied the Malheur Wildlife Refuge in a fuzzy agenda to protest government policies regarding public lands. Interviewees from the region—especially journalist Hal Herring—say there are legitimate issues and anger here over the law, but also that the Malheur malcontents were often unwelcome outside agitators, gun-crazed fantasists yearning for bygone frontier days. They are accused of having no real plan aside from seeking violent confrontation and following the self-serving macho media stunts of the Bundys and "co-leader" LaVoy Finicum (who would die in a shootout, the only casualty of the 40-day siege). Jason Patrick, one of the saner protesters seen here, compares the demonstration to similar occupations staged by the Black Panther Party in the 1960s (although the 2016 rebels would be equated with right-wing white nationalism). But most of the occupiers seem to be angry rural militia goons with a manufactured victim complex, determined to die in a firefight against "tyranny" (whatever that is), not unlike Islam’s jihadists. The foreboding conclusion: more of such generalized nihilist rage can be expected from self-proclaimed "patriots" in the Trump era. Recommended. [Note: this is also available on home video from Gravitas Ventures for $14.99 on DVD.] Aud: C, P. (C. Cassady)