‘Middletown’ Review: Looking Back on a Group of Student Filmmakers Who Questioned Authority

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The students from an upstate New York high school, as portrayed in “Middletown”, seem to suggest what the Breakfast Club gang could have become if they’d all been united by a common goal instead of just sullen defiance.

In 1991, teacher Fred Isseks designed an elective called Electronic English to let his students explore their natural curiosity and rebellious tendencies. Over the following years, those who chose this course produced videos, crafted horror films, but most notably, they worked on a project about the local landfill that would eventually gain recognition as excellent investigative journalism. Throughout this period from 1991 to ’97, four movies were created in total. The last one was a one-hour documentary titled “Garbage, Gangsters and Greed.” This film uncovered political corruption, media complacency, the Ford Motor Company, and the Genovese crime family, among others, in their role as contributors to the toxic waste dumped into the area landfills.

Filmmakers Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss are particularly skilled at appealing to the young generation. Their documentaries, such as “Boys State” and “Girls State,” which both won Emmys, showcase the idealism and energy of their youthful subjects. In their latest work, “Middletown,” they offer a unique perspective by focusing on five former high school reporters from Middletown High School, now grown adults. This film tells a tale of teenage determination as well as adults confronting the challenges and aspirations of their adolescent selves.

The narrative might seem excessively heartfelt at first glance, but it isn’t. While there are touching moments, it skillfully combines elements reminiscent of a “60 Minutes” investigative piece with emotional depth similar to a John Hughes film. This is achieved by McBaine, Moss, and editor Christopher Passig (“Telemarketers”) using Issek’s extensive and meticulously maintained collection of VHS tapes and files.

1991 saw Isseks, affectionately known as “Hippie Fred” and “Crazy Fred” by his students, serving as the entertaining English teacher. With his long shoulder-length hair, sparkling eyes, and radiant smile, he stood out. Although his passion lay in journalism and local history, he didn’t initially introduce a video media class. However, having graduated from Middletown in 1966, Isseks had previously provided students with Instamatic cameras to document their town (he even wrote a grant for them). Once the school acquired several video recorders, the focus of his class shifted towards video production. “Use your talent to make things, not just consume them” was one of his guiding principles.

A friend of Isseks, who owned a farm close to Wallkill town in Orange County, came to our class with tales of an environmental catastrophe happening at the nearby dump that Middletown was using. There were reports of brown, whirling sludge near the landfill, and barrels releasing amber goo onto the grass and soil. The students found it fascinating. He had described it in a way that rebellious teenagers could grasp, as Rachel Raimist (class of ’91) recalled.

In simpler words: Isseks’ farm-owning friend told us about pollution at Middletown’s nearby dump, using language that teenagers would understand. This caught the attention of our class, as described by Rachel Raimist from our ’91 graduating year.

As a movie enthusiast, I found myself immersed in the vintage charm of “Middletown” right from the get-go with its quirky VHS footage that bore an old MHTV disclaimer. The humor and nostalgia were palpable as it mimicked broadcast news, complete with a spot-on opening and less-than-stellar video quality. It was a delightful blend of laughter and sentiments that set the tone for the documentary.

McBaine and Moss recreated Isseks’ Middletown High studio in Los Angeles since the original one no longer exists, which could be another factor contributing to the time-travel sensation felt by former students such as Raimist, Jeff Dutemple, David Birmingham, and Mike Regan. On a small TV screen, they observe clips of themselves venturing illegally into the Wallkill landfill, where stagnant brown sludge collects and decaying barrels are kept; they question public officials for clarification, investigate concerns about the foul odor emanating from their tap water, and interview citizens.

Initially, there were few commonalities among the senior students in the class, as Raimist’s family had recently moved from New York City and often went back for music events with her goth and emo friends. Meanwhile, Mike Regan attended Electronic English because his friends were enrolled, although he wasn’t officially part of Fred’s class at that time. Dutemple recalls himself as being a bit pretentious in those days, and Birmingham, whose parents were a police officer and a social worker, acknowledges having a rebellious streak. (Middletown is located approximately 70 miles north of New York City.)

Initially hailing from different origins, they were all bound for the same goal: investigating whether the local Wallkill and Al Turi waste facilities posed a threat to the community’s health, and uncovering who was illegally disposing waste there. Their journey led them to various captivating individuals such as dump employees, New York State’s only wildlife pathologist, two county executives, and an editor from a local newspaper. The videos depict these students handling Freedom of Information Act petitions, scrutinizing documents, interacting with public figures, and refining their inquiries.

A significant development occurs when an unidentified informant provides details about a waste disposal company’s rule-breaking activities. Upon encountering Mr. B, he appears to be straight out of a casting call. However, his intel is nothing short of sensational. It exposes the involvement of organized crime in hazardous waste dumping. The student body manages to gather political backing, along with the attention of “60 Minutes”, ABC News, the New York Times, and the Village Voice.

In stark contrast to the initial handling of their findings by the media outlet, their investigation’s tape was presented to the local newspaper, the Times Herald-Record initially. After receiving no response, they courteously invited the editor for a meeting. However, this encounter proved less than promising for the seasoned journalist, who seemed uneasy and dismissive in his demeanor.

Jeff remarks, as he squares off against the seasoned journalist, that he appears quite upset. I’m worried about that youngster, but there’s no need to be. In ‘Middletown,’ both the children and their grown-up versions prove competent. However, it’s the responsible adults in charge of public safety who raise concerns.

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2025-02-04 00:17