The word “pioneer” is well-known to anyone who has grown up in America – it conjures up visions of hearty, self-reliant travelers who braved the wilderness in covered wagons to carve out a homestead and put down roots where none had gone before. The term has, thus, come to signify a person who finds a new way to do or understand a particular thing. That being said, we often think of “pioneers” as special people with special abilities or insights that allow them to change society on a grand scale. The documentary O Pioneer, however, tries to push against this notion by featuring three humble West Virginians who have discovered the pioneering spirit within themselves – a blacksmith, a seamstress, and a hospital chaplain – each uncovering the courage and determination to overcome the challenges ...