Watch Club: Sierra Pettengill’s The Rifleman
In this edition of Watch Club, I wanted to feature one of my favorite films from Sierra Pettengill for its powerful narrative as well as its use of archival footage. Sierra is making some of my favorite films and I think The Rifleman is a great introduction to their work.
The Power of Archival Footage in Sierra Pettengill’s The Rifleman
In The Rifleman, Pettengill delves into the hidden history of the National Rifle Association (NRA), using archival footage to uncover the organization’s shift in ideology following the civil rights movement. The short film, released by Field of Vision, focuses on Harlon Carter, a key figure in the NRA’s transformation from a gun club into a powerful political lobby. However, the story is not just about one man; it’s about the institutional structures that enabled this shift and the racial attitudes that shaped the NRA's modern identity.
A Historical Journey Through Media
Pettengill’s approach in The Rifleman is fascinating for its reliance on archival media, a method she has mastered across several films, including The Reagan Show (2017) and Graven Image (2017). In this great Q&A with film scholar Christian Rossipal, Pettengill explains that her focus was less on Harlon Carter’s personal psychology and more on the system that elevated him. By doing so, she avoids the “great man” narrative, instead focusing on institutional complicity and structural violence. Pettengill says, “An institution that accepts, promotes, and valorizes someone like Harlon Carter is in alignment with the values he holds. There’s a deep backbench of Carters in our institutions.”
This broader view of the NRA’s evolution allows Pettengill to paint a chilling portrait of how organizations can perpetuate harmful ideologies under the guise of progress and patriotism. Through archival footage that spans decades, Pettengill meticulously constructs a timeline that highlights the NRA's origins and its shift into the post–civil rights era, framing it as part of the backlash against the movement for racial equality.
Archives as Critical Narrators
One of the most powerful elements of The Rifleman is Pettengill’s use of archival footage and her meticulous attention to the ethics of using such material. She contrasts corporate-owned archives (such as those of the NRA or Reagan administration) with community-authored footage, explaining that the former is “fair game” for her documentary work. In contrast, she expresses deep concern over how community footage, often captured at great personal risk, should be handled with care and respect.
Pettengill’s careful approach extends to the research process itself. She worked with sources ranging from American Rifleman magazines from the 1960s to high school yearbooks and congressional testimonies, and she emphasizes the importance of giving audiences the tools to verify these sources themselves. By incorporating citations directly into the film’s pillarboxed margins, Pettengill calls attention to the veracity of the media and encourages viewers to engage critically with history.
Conclusion: A Documentary of Quiet Power
The Rifleman is a masterclass in using archival footage to reveal the hidden history behind powerful institutions. Pettengill’s focus on the NRA’s role in shaping America’s gun culture and the racial attitudes embedded in its leadership adds depth and nuance to the current conversation about gun rights and institutional racism. The film’s slow, deliberate pacing allows for moments of reflection, making its final revelations about Harlon Carter and his role in the NRA even more powerful.
Sierra Pettengill’s work offers a blueprint for how documentaries can use historical footage not just to inform but to interrogate, offering viewers a way to question the narratives they’ve been handed and the institutions that shape their lives. As The Rifleman shows, the past is never truly past—it’s embedded in the systems we live under today.