John Nakashima’s “Mountaineer” - April 26, 2026

“Mountaineer,” John Nakashima’s seemingly lost, one-hour documentary, is a West Virginia cult classic that takes a lively yet thoughtful look at the true culture of the state.

The documentary challenges widespread “hillbilly” stereotypes through interviews with prominent West Virginians, including Poet Laureate Irene McKinney, historian John Williams, and writers Pinckney Benedict and Denise Giardina. Their insights are intercut with a vast archive of film and television clips from the 1920s to the 1990s that showcase how these stereotypes have been portrayed over time. Music by Dwight Diller, Charlie Blevins, Hasil Adkins, The River Cities Boy Choir, The Bing Brothers, and Hot Rize.