Tar Creek

The Tar Creek area in northeastern Oklahoma was home to one of the largest lead and zinc strikes on the planet. For a while it was terrifically profitable, especially when it was subsidized for wartime mining. This personal, affecting documentary introduces us to the people living in that part of American’s heartland, now one of the worst environmental disasters in the country. More than a chronicle of the waste and danger generated by the mine, this is the story of the neighbors trying to make things right, or buy their way out, and the many layers of government and scientific organizations that are involved in the mess. It’s also a story of the Quapaw Tribe and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which ordered mining companies to dump enormous mounds lead-laced waster rock on Quapaw land. First-time director Matt Myers narrates the film with uncommon warmth and familiarity, helping us understand the science behind the mine, the ramifications for the community, and keeps the voices of the community front and center. Original music by Watermelon Slim.