kviff.com
News
Festival Guide
  • Tickets and Festival Pass
  • Accommodations
  • Transportation
  • Festival cinemas
  • No Barriers project
  • Kids at the festival
  • Festival Shop
Program
  • Catalogue of films
  • Accompanying programme
  • Archive of films
  • Audience award
  • KVIFF Talks
  • Film Entry
Film Industry
  • Industry accreditation
  • Film Industry at KVIFF
  • Industry Days Programme
  • KVIFF Eastern Promises
  • KVIFF Talents
Press
  • Press accreditation
  • Press Service
  • For download
  • Press releases
  • Photogallery
  • Videogallery
About the festival
  • Festival description
  • Programme sections
  • Awards
  • History
  • We support non-profits
  • Photogallery
  • Partners
  • Why We Support the Festival
  • Contacts
CZ
Sign in
Film Archive

Solitary Plains

Documentary Films - Competition 2014 / Solitary Plains / USA 2014

The blazing fires of metalwork construction illuminate the industrial landscape of North Dakota. Only the occasional passing of an impossibly long freight train interrupts the corpse-like atmosphere of limbo. Twelve-year-old James doesn’t go to school and gradually resigns himself to a bleak future amid massive oil refineries.

Solitary Plains Solitary Plains

Synopsis

Thousands of people, mostly men, head for the barren plains of North Dakota to find much-needed jobs in the heavy industries supporting the oil boom. Twelve-year-old James doesn’t go to school, and while his father slaves from morning till night he wanders aimlessly in the vicinity of their rundown RV. The light from the blazing fires of metalwork construction never go out, and only the occasional passing of an impossibly long freight train interrupts the torpid atmosphere of limbo. The days drift by, and James gradually resigns himself to a bleak future amid massive oil refineries.

About the film

9 min / Color, DCP
European premiere

Director J. Christian Jensen / Dir. of Photography J. Christian Jensen / Music Wiley Webb, Chris Carlson / Editor J. Christian Jensen / Producer J. Christian Jensen / Production Weary Traveler / Contact J. Christian Jensen

About the director

J. Christian Jensen

J. Christian Jensen completed his studies in documentary filmmaking last year at Stanford University, but he has been active in the field for almost 10 years, including work for numerous TV stations such as National Geographic. His directorial debut, the TV documentary Sou da Bahia (2009), was followed by several successful short student documentaries: Out of Body (2011), Between Land and Seas (2012), Alpha & Omega (2012) and White Earth (2013).

Contacts

J. Christian Jensen
2295 Bowdoin St., 943 06, Palo Alto
United States of America
Phone: +1 435 215 6284
E-mail: [email protected]

Guests

J. Christian Jensen
Film Director

Other partners
Newsletter

First-hand brews throughout the year.
Be among the first to learn about upcoming events and other news. We only send the newsletter when we have something to say.

Follow us on the web:

The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
is part of the KVIFF Group family, which covers other projects as well:

© 2025 KVIFF GROUP

Rules for Visitors / Website visitors privacy policy / GTC / Personal Data Protection / Rules for Claim / Rules and Regulations / Contacts