I’m not Leaving Eldon

The state of Iowa is the largest producer of soy and corn in the U.S.. 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 and houses are miles apart. Five young people talk about their daily lives in this rural area. Layoffs 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.

Jessica Bollag

Jessica Bollag recently completed her MΑ in Social Anthropology, with a focus on Visual Anthropology at the University of Bern. She is currently working at the Federal Office of Culture and was working as assisting teacher at the University of Bern. This film was her Master Thesis at the Institute of Social Anthropology at the University of Bern.