I’M NOT LEAVING ELDON

Jessica Bollag | USA, Switzerland 2015 | 49 Min. | OmeU

The state of Iowa is the largest producer of soy and corn in the US. In the town of Eldon, Iowa, the multi-national corporations, Cargill and John Deere, are the most important job sources – mostly in the low-income bracket. In the town there are hardly any public services. Five young people talk about their daily lives in this rural area. Their houses are often separated by firing and outsourcing are real threats. Beside all this, the protagonists are labeled with negative stereotypes: white trash, rednecks and hillbillies. The five inhabitants of Eldon describe the local changes. Why stay despite bad job opportunities? How do they deal with their negative stereotypes? Why is freedom more important than a career? Creative solutions and a strong sense of community are essential in this rural region. An anthropological documentary about unlocked doors, fun and conflict in geographical isolation.