The Bulldogs
Runtime:
84:00
Directors:
Noah Dixon, Ori Segev
Genre:
Documentary
Showtime:
2:30pm on Sunday, September 20th at Mariemont Theatre
Synopsis:
On February 3rd, 2023, a Norfolk Southern train derailed in the village of East Palestine, Ohio, leading to the release and subsequent burning of 1.1 million pounds of vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen. For days, a plume of black smoke hung above East Palestine, visible for miles. Thousands of residents were forced to evacuate. In the weeks that followed, the community found itself thrust into a media whirlwind with attention from press, politicians, the Environmental Protection Agency, and a visit from former president Donald Trump. Upon returning to their homes, residents reported rashes, soar throats, headaches and nausea. Overnight, the town faced a maelstrom of uncertainty and controversy, raising questions about safety, corporate responsibility, and the economic future of an already struggling rust-belt community. The Bulldogs picks up as the news cameras leave, and residents struggle to resume their lives in the aftermath of the derailment. A feature length documentary spanning a single year, the film is an intimate portrait of East Palestine that captures the ebb and flow of small-town life: Friday night football games, Christmas concerts, and morel mushroom hunting season. But the massive cleanup of contaminated ground soil and continued presence of the EPA, roving air monitors, and Norfolk Southern workers looms ever-present in the background. Amidst disputes around the long-term health impacts of the derailment, tensions between residents rise. The film explores the differing perspectives among residents mistrustful of media depictions of their town, and those who worry their situation is being exploited for political gain. From a chiropractor-turned-activist running for a congressional seat, to the leader of an over-60s dance exercise group, to a retired pizza shop owner and former star football player, The Bulldogs paints a rich and nuanced picture of a tight-knit community in crisis.
Nominee for Best Documentary Feature Film
With work featured in Rolling Stone Magazine, Vulture, Variety and The New York Times, Ori Segev and Noah Dixon have positioned themselves as a breakthrough directing duo. Their first narrative Feature film Poser premiered in competition at Tribeca in 2021. Poser was awarded The New York Times critic’s pick in 2022 and received a full theatrical release through Oscilloscope Laboratories. In a style uniquely their own, Segev and Dixon focus their creative vision on both narrative and documentary work. It is through this dynamic range of projects that the two have successfully forged their strong creative relationship. Directing together has provided opportunities for each person’s strongest attributes to rise to the surface and combine to form a balanced, yet distinct voice. Ori’s background and passion for cinematography has created a filmmaking vision that draws from and leans heavily on visual storytelling. Noah’s background and expertise as a writer and editor has formed an extremely strong sense of story, tone, and character, contributing to his ability to work with subjects. What makes this relationship unique is that Ori and Noah also act as an editing duo as well, which help inform strong decisions on set and in pre-production on how scenes would eventually play out. Their creative rise has also led to other ventures: most notably, Ori served as producer and cinematographer for the Sundance 2020 documentary short, Character, and Noah served as the editor for the internationally recognized documentary short, Censoring Nuremberg.