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The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia is a 2009 documentary film directed by Julien Nitzberg, chronicling the White Family of Boone County, West Virginia.

Synopsis
The film follows the White family over the course of a year in their daily life through first person interviews. The film mentions the details of the death of Donald Ray "D. Ray" White, the patriarch of the family. It also mentions D. Ray White's rise to stardom as one of the most famous mountain dancers of his time. Bertie Mae White, D. Ray's widow, is also featured; her illness is documented throughout the course of the film. Bertie is considered "The Miracle Woman" by locals due to her lifelong dedication to raising abandoned children. Throughout the film, Bertie is seen supporting her family despite her intolerance of their dangerous and reckless choices. The younger generations of White's are followed to drug deals, criminal trials, hospital beds, and jail cells to recount the wild and outlandish events in their lives. A group of local professionals in Boone County speak about the Whites, acting as a Greek chorus. Most of them criticize the Whites and their negative influence on the community.

Stemming from generations of coal miners working in risky job conditions, most of the White family possesses a fatalism attitude and a lack of the fear of death. For the duration of the film, varying members recollect violent acts with neighbors, family members, and other locals. Other crimes included larceny, prescription fraud, shootings, armed robbery, forgery, stabbings and parental custody. D. Ray worked in the coal mines during the scrip payment era. Mamie explains D. Ray's frustration with the corrupt practices of his employers and how it led him to "outsmarting the system". D. Ray legally signed each of his children up for "crazy checks" during early adolescence. Mamie discloses to the audience that each month, she (and other members) receive social security checks monthly from the government due to their inability to hold employment from psychiatric disability.

The Whites
Six of D. Ray and Bertie's thirteen children are featured in the film.

D. Ray and Bertie's Children

 * Jesco White – son of D. Ray and Bertie; a well-known mountain dancer, he was previously the subject of the documentary film The Dancing Outlaw.


 * Mamie White – oldest daughter of D. Ray and Bertie; girlfriend of Billy Hastings; she introduces the family at the start of the film. Mamie tells the story of her brother Dorsey White, who was shot in the face during a dispute with neighbors and lost an eye. He later died of an unintentional self-inflicted gunshot wound. Mamie's boyfriend Billy Hastings is not related to the Whites, but he is a central figure in the family's past and present. His involvement in a dispute led to the shooting death of D. Ray White by Steve Roe. His altercation with Brandon Poe is described in detail in the film.


 * Bo White – daughter of D. Ray and Bertie; mother of Kirk White and Derek Castle.


 * Poney White – the only one of D. Ray and Bertie's children to leave Boone County. He moved to Minneapolis and is a house painter. Poney states he felt he needed to leave West Virginia to improve his life, a decision he made after a prescription fraud conviction. Despite leaving the public school system in seventh grade, Poney is one of the few employed members of the family. His daughter, Virginia, recounts her inability to obtain employment due to her last name before they relocated. His son, Jerry, rehashes mistreatment from educators in the local school simply due to his lineage.


 * Sue Bob White – the youngest of D. Ray and Bertie's children; she is the mother of Brandon and Ashley Poe. (According to the website, Sue Bob was arrested shortly after filming ended, and has been in jail ever since.)

Grandchildren/Cousins

 * Kirk White – daughter of Bo White; and sisters of Derek Castle. Kirk's children, Monica and Tylor, are featured in the film. She gives birth to a child during the film, and the child is taken away by Child Protective Services. Kirk checks herself into an alcohol and drug rehab facility in order to regain custody.


 * Derek Castle – son of Bo White; brother of Kirk White.


 * Brandon Poe – son of Sue Bob White; he is sentenced to 50 years in prison for the attempted murder of Billy Hastings.


 * Mousie White – eldest daughter of Mamie White; she is shown being released from prison.


 * Terri Lynn White – only daughter of Carly White; shown doing jello shooters at the courthouse. She's the tallest of the White clan.

Critical Response
The film received mixed-to-positive reviews, garnering a 63% "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Soundtrack

 * Notes