"After graduating from journalism school, Nick Beaulieu returns to his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska to document its surging racial justice movement while seeking to reconnect with his staunchly pro-Trump father Randy - a task made more urgent when Randy is unexpectedly diagnosed with stage-4 cancer."

OUR DOCUMENTARY REVIEW:

Young filmmaker Nick Beaulieu crafts together his documentary My Omaha as a way to understand the divisions in his hometown, the Black Nebraska Community, and within his own household. The bisection between livelihoods and ideals becomes too unbearable for Beaulieu, so he seeks answers from behind a lens. My Omaha asks questions and shows possible answers. But the unique friendship that materializes on camera is a more compelling narrative.

My Omaha becomes Beaulieu’s search to find truth in the liberal versus conservative echo chambers. While recording, he seeks reconciliation with his Republican father who was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Surprisingly, and even more important, is how the focus of the story leans into the friendship he builds with Leo Louis, an independent activist from North Omaha. Louis is a charismatic and positive figure in the community that, if anything, could have completely supplanted Beaulieu’s windmill chasing for “truth.”

My Omaha begins with Beaulieu’s thesis. During the 2016 presidential administration, Nick’s father, Randy, had jumped full-on with the Fox News rhetoric. His at-home stump speeches and social media postings exasperated Nick who, with leftist leanings, could no longer have a meaningful dialogue, let alone a civil conversation, with his father. Beaulieu decided to set up recorded interviews between the two. Randy is convicted. Nick is softer with his youthful intentions. In between their Frost/Nixon-like discussions, Nick travels through his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, a city that has been politically polarized in a parallel manner to father and son. West Omaha is suburban safe; the city center is touristy and corporate; North Omaha remains neglected and violent. 

Beaulieu jumps between interviews with Pastor Cynthia Lindemeyer of the United Methodist Church while attending community meetings and going on patrol with a citizens’ watch. Beaulieu remains the focus of both monologue and dialogue. While his views are crystalized, and his father’s are broadcast, Beaulieu does not dive too deeply into giving the Right a voice, outside of Randy’s, and random quick soundbites from community meetings. Beaulieu instead skews into the personal instead of ramming into the political. 

The voice of Leo Louis is Beaulieu’s crowning achievement. Louis is appealing, intelligent, and passionate. Louis sees his activism as a mission. He is the godfather of North Omaha where he knows everyone by name. He questions the police, works with and within the community, and desires to pass on knowledge for the benefit of all. Beaulieu latches onto Louis like a mutt with a Milkbone - and rightfully so. 

Beaulieu has a good eye for his subject matter and, working with editor Jordan Montminy, splices in enough outside voices to break up the slightly-monotonous video journaling. Beaulieu is on a quest. Like any worthwhile journeys, the point is not to arrive. There is no neat resolution here either. As documentarian Bill Jersey states in the film, you never get to the real truth. Beaulieu is fortunate. He finds peace in regards to the life of his father. He builds a friendship with Louis. 

My Omaha publishes provoking ideas from a fresh filmmaker. Beaulieu’s personal spin outside political matters might disappoint those wishing to bash the Left or the Right. His moderate temperament on knowledge and friendship however, (ahem) trumps all. 

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Be sure to catch My Omaha – and many other indie projects – over at Slamdance.