Borderlines

Digitally Remastered Picture and Sound - Coming Soon!

Set against a background of farming, saw-milling and moonshining activities during the Depression, Borderlines focuses on a small portion of the Cumberland Plateau along the Kentucky-Tennessee border. Local historical and social conditions beginning with the Civil War have created an atmosphere in which violence has become an acceptable method of handling disagreements.

But to an outsider, schoolteacher Larlee Sanders sent in from the county seat, the deadly behavior can only be considered murder.

Although Larlee gradually solidifies relationships with members of the community - including Cilla Hatcher, her matter-of-fact landlady, Calvin Jones, a sawmill worker, and her quiet pupil Ought Dobbs - she is reluctant to accept their community's way of living and dying. But one night at a box supper, the familiar combination of moonshine, weapons and violent tempers erupt, and Larlee finds herself in the middle and is forced to accept, reject, or in some way attempt to change a deeply embedded social behavior.

VHS, 48 minutes, color.

Superbly done. Students, while enjoying the program as a piece of fiction, should also be able to relate the problems of this rural area in the 30's to the problems of indifference to alcohol and violence in today's world. Useful in secondary classes in social problems as well as U.S. history. -- School Library Journal

Thought-provoking...an involving story with fine performances. A stimulating discussion-starter about how to bring about a change in attitude toward conflict. -- Booklist (American Library Association)

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Purchase Borderlines

Screenings

1994 Kentucky School Media Association Jesse Stuart Award
The Telluride Independent Film and Screenwriters Festival
Sinking Creek Film/Video Festival
North Carolina International Film & Video Festival - Certificate of Merit
Louisville Film and Video Festival - Merit Award
Kentucky Educational Television
Jesse Stuart Media Award, 1994, Kentucky School Media Association

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Credits