The moral/psychological tension is the moment that Hugh gets killed by Herbert for being on Herbert’s land. Moreover, what makes this even worse is that for a long time, the people in Kentucky thought that Herbert was a hero and was protecting himself; however, they were unaware of the true story behind the murder. What strikes me about this is how Hugh was there to do a specific job and he was seen as the “bad guy” even when he told Herbert he was leaving the premises. The tension in the film is specifically represented when Herbert took out the gun and pointed it at Hugh, and when Hugh turned his back and shot him anyway. This moment of shock is revealed to the viewer when Hugh goes down from behind and within moments is dead. Herbert continues on as if nothing happens and returns to his home.
In Coles, Doing Documentary Research, chapter two, Cole mentions that he understands the moral/psychological tension between what documentarians do and the people they observe. He even offers a conversation he has with Agee asking him if everything is so great for the people studied, why are we trying to change them? It is these questions that bring about the tensions between the two groups of people (one who reports/the other who essentially plays the role). To further it, Cole recalls one of the final moments in his own study with Mrs. Bridges when she turns to him and says, “I hope you don’t forget our people” (Cole, 64). Cole took this to heart and years later realized he did not at the time understand or value those words like he did later on. He is not one of the people studied and though his intentions may not have been poor, from the eyes of those he studied, he knew he never belonged and would never understand the way they felt.
Barret, as a Kentucky born woman, believed she could do a better job than the other filmmakers because she lives amongst the people, unlike the others who came just for the purpose of filming. She did not have to pretend she was someone else to understand those around her. Her location is everything in this film, as location can make or break a documentary and in her eyes, her location as both a filmmaker and subject give her more credibility. Less tension is accrued in her situation because she understands the many sides to filmmaking.
