LA GRANDE — The 15th annual Eastern Oregon Film Festival is fast approaching! This year will include screenings for 32 films. Among them: “The Green Flash” from directors Jodi Cash and Ethan Payne.

The setting is St. Pete Beach, Florida, today and a lifetime ago. The skylines differ drastically, but the sun and surf are the same. Wandering the beaches in both: a laxed, wily, wide grin of a man. His name is Steve.

There was a straightforward way for “The Green Flash” to tell its story: In the ‘60s, economic conditions in Florida gave rise to a generation of young pot smugglers. Eventually the feds caught up with them as the war on drugs gained steam, and moving in and out of prison became the norm.

Some folks were able to endure it, others weren’t. Now, that once-young generation is dying off, and their stories are worth preserving. That’s the straightforward way — Cash and Payne are anything but in how they build out their winding, ever-delighting documentary.

One will need to be patient to fully grasp the narrative that “The Green Flash” is exploring as, for a good while, we’re just hanging out with a bunch of older folks waxing rhapsodic about the good ol’ days.

At the center is Steve, clearly a radical-type, who is as charming as he is crass. Only gradually are we told the epic tale of a modern-day pirate’s life on the run as he seeks his satisfaction. We jump back and forth in time, across countries and generations — although potentially confounding in its structure, the film sings as it flows on down its runtime.

The filmmakers, blessed with a wealth of archival photos and video, use their assets to the fullest.

The interviews feel less like talking heads and more like casual conversations. While the form may not be groundbreaking, it is firing on all cylinders.

In the end, what will stick with a viewer long after the credits come will be the tone: “The Green Flash” is laid back, cheerful and optimistic — and yet, we’re talking about drugs, death, and years of life lost to an overzealous penal system.

On the edge of every frame, literally in one case, are the tears of pain and injustice, waiting to break your heart. Cash and Payne are wise to this, and handle the needed nuance deftly.

It’s a lovely watch, and may the good times roll.

Eastern Oregon Film Festival

The Eastern Oregon Film Festival is set for

Oct. 17-19 in La Grande.

A number of events are planned, in addition to screening of the 32 films accepted for the festival. Locations include the Liberty Theater, McKenzie Theater at Eastern Oregon University and HQ.

For more information, the schedule, or to purchase festival passes, visit eofilmfest.com.