Actually, LadyJean, that isn't the message this movie gives people at all. It doesn't portray the people of Missouri this way or even the people of the Ozarks or even the people in the counties where this is set. It's just a story, a hopeful story, dealing with the lives of some of the people there.

I have a brother living and working in the Mountain Grove, West Plains area who actually knows some of the people. He's director of a regional CAP Agency. And my own S.O. has lived among the people where the film was actually shot. She also knows people who appear in the movie. Arkie met her when we were in Mountain Grove in 2008.

I haven't read the book but the film presents an accurate view of certain rural folks in the area. It's also, in my opinion, a deeply moving film and very well shot, directed and acted. We drove 120 miles to see the film as it wasn't going to play in our area. Well worth the trip.

      - Mark