Uintah United
Uintah United
NR | 12 August 2009 (USA)
Uintah United Trailers

In the last century Americans have built over four hundred hillside letters. These enormous roadside monuments identify high schools, universities and towns, but one has a story far more dramatic than any other. In 1922 a small Utah town was rocked with the news that the local school principal, had shot and killed one of his students. The student was a member of a gang of boys who had been responsible for threatening and driving out eight prior principals. Shocked and deeply divided by the event, the community of Uintah broke apart. Uintah United tells the remarkable story of the principal's successor, Golden Kilburn, who masterfully transformed the lives and behavior of these troublesome boys and healed a community. The lasting emblem of their inspirational tale remains as a giant letter U on the Uintah Hillside, built to stand for "Uintah" and "United."

Reviews
lawrenceb56

This is one of the more inspiring documentaries I've seen in the last few years. It is well made and combines a Burns like style, with the artists own unique presentational style. It has minor, minor flaws in it's doc-drama presentation, but that can't take away from the overall impact. It is a solid, simple retelling of one of the best small town stories I've ever heard. When I say "simple" I don't mean to imply that there is simplistic thinking by the filmmaker. He presents many different sides of a complex story and a man (Golden Kilburn) who had a seemingly simple view of boys and a straightforward way of dealing with them. Namely, understanding that boys have a huge well of energy and that getting the most out of that energy requires hard work, love of your fellow man, discipline and direction. In his subject character, Golden Kilburn--he has a gem. You simply can't look into the face of this man and not see a proud and caring person who is happy to be alive and embracing life. What a teacher! What a leader!

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