The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia
Encyclopedia
The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia is a 2009
documentary film
directed by Julien Nitzberg
, chronicling the White Family
of Boone County, West Virginia
.
's rise to stardom as one of the most famous mountain dancer
s of his time. Bertie May White, D. Ray's widow, is also featured; her illness is documented throughout the course of the film. Six of D. Ray and Bertie's thirteen children are featured in the film.
. Most of them criticize the Whites and their negative influence on the community.
.
2009 in film
The year 2009 saw the release of many films. Seven made the top 50 list of highest-grossing films, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that as of this year, their Best Picture category would consist of ten nominees, rather than five .- Highest-grossing films :Please note...
documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
directed by Julien Nitzberg
Julien Nitzberg
Julien Nitzberg is an American film director, script writer, and theatre director.Nitzberg directed the musical The Beastly Bombing in Los Angeles and the documentary film The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia, a portrayal of The White Family, who have been called "the most extreme...
, chronicling the White Family
The White family
The White family is a family living in rural Boone County, West Virginia. The family has a reputation for anti-social behavior, and, indeed, some members of the family are quite proud of it. The family, especially Jesco, is infamous in Boone County, but celebrated by some...
of Boone County, West Virginia
Boone County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,535 people, 10,291 households, and 7,460 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile . There were 11,575 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...
.
The Whites
The film follows the White family for one year with first person interviews. The film mentions the details of the death of Donald Ray "D. Ray" White, the patriarch of the family. It also mentions D. Ray WhiteD. Ray White
D. Ray White, , was a American mountain dancer and entertainer, and the patriarch of the White family. He has been featured in several American documentary films that detail the White family, and the Hank Williams III song "The Legend of D...
's rise to stardom as one of the most famous mountain dancer
Clogging
Clogging is a type of folk dance with roots in traditional European dancing, early African-American dance, and traditional Cherokee dance in which the dancer's footwear is used musically by striking the heel, the toe, or both in unison against a floor or each other to create audible percussive...
s of his time. Bertie May White, D. Ray's widow, is also featured; her illness is documented throughout the course of the film. Six of D. Ray and Bertie's thirteen children are featured in the film.
D. Ray and Bertie's Children
- Jesco WhiteJesco WhiteJesco White, the "Dancing Outlaw", is an American mountain dancer and entertainer. He is best known as the subject of three American documentary films that detail his desire to follow in his famous father's footsteps, while trying to overcome depression, drug addiction, and the poverty that...
– son of D. Ray and Bertie; a well-known mountain dancerCloggingClogging is a type of folk dance with roots in traditional European dancing, early African-American dance, and traditional Cherokee dance in which the dancer's footwear is used musically by striking the heel, the toe, or both in unison against a floor or each other to create audible percussive...
, he was previously the subject of the documentary film The Dancing Outlaw.
- Mamie White – oldest daughter of D. Ray and Bertie; girlfriend of Billy Hastings; she introduces the family at the start of the film. Mamie tells the story of her brother Dorsey White, who was shot in the face during a dispute with neighbors and lost an eye. He later died of an unintentional self inflicted gunshot wound. Mamie's boyfriend Billy Hastings is not related to the Whites, but he is a central figure in the family's past and present. His involvement in a dispute led to the shooting death of D. Ray White by Steve Roe. His altercation with Brandon Poe is described in detail in the film.
- Bo White – daughter of D. Ray and Bertie; mother of Kirk White and Derek Castle.
- Poney White – the only one of D. Ray and Bertie's children to leave Boone County. He moved to Minneapolis and is a house painter. Poney states he felt he needed to leave West Virginia to improve his life.
- Sue Bob White – the youngest of D. Ray and Bertie's children; she is the mother of Brandon and Ashley Poe. (According to the website, Sue Bob was arrested shortly after filming ended, and has been in jail ever since.)
Grandchildren/Cousins
- Kirk White – daughter of Bo White; and sisters of Derek Castle. Kirk's children, Monica and Tylor, are featured in the film. She gives birth to a child during the film, and the child is taken away by Child Protective ServicesChild Protective ServicesChild Protective Services is the name of a governmental agency in many states of the United States that responds to reports of child abuse or neglect. Some states use other names, often attempting to reflect more family-centered practices, such as "Department of Children & Family Services"...
. Kirk checks herself into an alcohol and drug rehab facility in order to regain custody.
- Derek Castle – son of Bo White; brother of Kirk White.
- Brandon Poe – son of Sue Bob White; he is sentenced to 50 years in prison for the attempted murder of Billy Hastings.
- Mousie White – eldest daughter of Mamie White; she is shown being released from prison.
- Terri Lynn White – only daughter of Carly White; shown doing jello shooters at the courthouse. She's the tallest of the White clan.
Comments by other Locals
A group of local professionals in Boone County speak of the Whites, acting as a Greek chorusGreek chorus
A Greek chorus is a homogenous, non-individualised group of performers in the plays of classical Greece, who comment with a collective voice on the dramatic action....
. Most of them criticize the Whites and their negative influence on the community.
Reception
The film received mixed-to-positive reviews, garnering a 63% "Fresh" rating on Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
.