Silverton resident Chuck Sheketoff has seen the documentary several times and it still brings tears to his eyes.
“There are some light moments in the movie and there are some moments it is hard to watch,” he said.
It’s a documentary he encourages people to see so they can understand the tremendous impact the Great Recession has had on American families.
The executive director for the Oregon Center for Public Policy in Silverton, Sheketoff appears in American Winter, a documentary that follows the stories of eight Portland-area families struggling to survive.
The film follows the families found through calls to 211, a referral service that steers thousands in crisis to available social services. For example, the location of the closest food bank or community health center.
Emmy award-winning filmmakers Joe and Harry Gantz followed the eight families who face different challenges from losing their home or job to medical costs.
Sheketoff said there have been films made about what caused the Great Recession – such as the banks and housing foreclosures. This film, he said, shows how the economic downturn had a powerful impact on families.
“There are eight families in the documentary and I think there is a family that everyone can relate to,” Sheketoff said. “These are people who go to your church or synagogue or school.”
A documentary on the impact
on families of the Great Recession
Monday, March 18, 9 p.m. on HBO
To learn more visit:
www.americanwinterfilm.com
There is a 50-year-old man who lost his job as an accountant and has a son who has Down syndrome. A widow with a 11-year-old son who loses her home and moves to a shelter. A man who loses his job and his wife tries to support the family on $8.95 an hour. The families have to make choices on how to pay for food, shelter and utilities.
“Each of the families has an interesting story that people can relate to,” he said, adding it was an honor to meet the families at the premiere in Portland.
Sheketoff said he met with Harry Gantz for two 45-minute interviews. His role, he said, was to provide context to the families’ stories such as how there are holes in the public safety nets; how poor a family needs to be to obtain public assistance, income inequality, corporate profits, CEO salaries and the fading American dream.
Sheketoff said the movie shows how important social safety nets are to families and how one event – like an unexpected medical cost or job loss – can alter a family’s situation. The social safety net created to assist people during tough times has been weakened by budget cuts, resulting fewer resources at a time when more assistance is needed, he said. Many have to hit rock bottom before they qualify for assistance.
“The families were battling to keep their heads above water,” he said. “For many middle class families, it seems like one strike and they are out.” Sheketoff hopes the film brings attention to the 211 emergency hotline.
“I think this movie will make people think about why we are in this situation and what we need to do together to solve our problem,” he said.
