The Overnighters review

Patient, non-judgemental docu-making yields psychologically rich results in Jesse Moss’s potent dispatch from recession-hit America. His focus is Jay Reinke, a North Dakota pastor whose “overnighters” programme provides support to troubled men seeking oil industry work – despite local opposition.

Moss nurtures universal resonances (struggle, redemption) from grassroots materials: timely specifics, conflicted individuals. And few are more conflicted than Reinke, whose secrets provide the boldly irresolute climax to a boldly provocative tale of flawed humanity and hardship.