STORYLINE: Sarah’s Oil is inspired by the remarkable true story of Sarah Rector, an African American girl born in Oklahoma Indian Territory in the early 1900s, who believes there is oil beneath the barren land she’s allotted and whose faith is proven right. As greedy oil sharks close in, Sarah turns to her family, friends, and some Texas wildcatters to maintain control of her oil-rich land, eventually becoming among the nation’s first female African American millionaires-at eleven years old. (IMDb)

    There is a vast well of cinema about oil.  Some films are based in reality (2016’s Deepwater Horizon).  Some are dramatic (There Will Be Blood, 2007), and others are action packed (The World is Not Enough, 1999).  Now, it’s 2025’s turn to have a film featuring oil, with the release of Sarah’s Oil.

   Sarah’s Oil sets its story at the turn of the 1900s.  American prospecting is in full swing.  So is racism (unfortunately, as a culture we have not progressed a that far from the events the trade in the film, when it comes to the topic).  Sarah’s Oil sets itself up to be an interesting social commentary film.  It falls short of that mark, when it turns into a white savior film.  I am interpreting this as the white character, swoops in to save the day.

   This was a disappointment, espically after seeing The Fire Inside (2024).  In the case of The Fire Inside it is an incredible true story about an African American woman aided by others within her culture to success.

    The film just told its story straight through.  There were no real facts about the time period, or the oil industry.  It seems like this was a missed opportunity to open a meaningful discussion about racism and/pr the Environment. 

    In the end Sarah’s Oil was a film that missed its mark, much like The Blond Sudd (2009).

   Until next time I will see you at the movies!