euskalkultura.eus

Virginia Allen/Bakersfield, USA. A group in Bakersfield, CA has begun filming a documentary about the Basque-American community in the western United States called “Disappearing West”. Film maker Beaux Mingus, sociology PhD student Philippe Duhart, and film maker and animator Gina Napolitan hope to shed light on a largely overlooked but important segment of American history.

They believe there are important stories to tell about the contribution of Basque immigrants to the development of the American West and are conducting interviews with Basque-Americans in the region. Anyone willing to share their story or contribute to the project is encouraged to contact the group at basquedocumentary@gmail.com. The film is expected to be finished within the next year and will likely air at film festivals, regional Basque clubs and community centers and on some public media outlets.

Out of the three contributors only Duhart is of Basque heritage – his mother emigrated from Ortzaize in 1970 and his father from Makea in 1967. However, they all feel a sense of responsibility to the cause of preserving and uncovering Basque culture in the U.S.

They hope to portray a more nuanced version of the relationship between Basques and the American West in both historical and modern contexts with reflections on the concept of home and community. The film is centered in Bakersfield, but the group has plans to visit communities in Nevada, Idaho and Arizona as well.

Disappearing West: Sample cuts and interview from Disappearing West on Vimeo.

For more information visit their website or like their Facebook page.