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IMDbPro

Soul of a People: Writing America's Story

  • TV Movie
  • 20092009
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
19
YOUR RATING
Soul of a People: Writing America's Story (2009)
Soul of a People: Writing America's Story explores one of the most controversial New Deal programs created by FDR during the Great Depression. Seen through the eyes of some of its most famous alumni -- Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison, Zora Neale Hurstson, John Cheever -- the film follows the Federal Writers' Project as they fan out across America, interview its citizens, and produce a portrait of the USA from the ground up in a series of state travel guides.  Soul of a People is a Spark Media Production produced for Smithsonian Networks with a major funding grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.  It is narrated by Academy Award-nominated actress Patricia Clarkson, directed by Andrea Kalin, based on the book, "Soul Of A People," by David A. Taylor, and features commentary from literary luminaries Studs Terkel, Stetson Kennedy, Douglas Brinkley and David Bradley.
Play clip4:02
Soul of a People: Writing America's Story
1 Video
16 Photos
  • Documentary
In the grip of the Great Depression, unemployed men and women joined an unlikely WPA program to document America in guidebooks and interviews. With the Federal Writers' Project, the governme... Read allIn the grip of the Great Depression, unemployed men and women joined an unlikely WPA program to document America in guidebooks and interviews. With the Federal Writers' Project, the government pitted young, untested talents against the problems of everyday Americans. From that ex... Read allIn the grip of the Great Depression, unemployed men and women joined an unlikely WPA program to document America in guidebooks and interviews. With the Federal Writers' Project, the government pitted young, untested talents against the problems of everyday Americans. From that experience, some of America's great writers found their own voices, and discovered the Soul ... Read all
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
19
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Andrea Kalin
  • Writers
    • David A. Taylor
    • Olive Emma Bucklin
    • Andrea Kalin
  • Stars
    • Amy Bloom(voice)
    • Vince Brown
    • Patricia Clarkson
Top credits
  • Director
    • Andrea Kalin
  • Writers
    • David A. Taylor
    • Olive Emma Bucklin
    • Andrea Kalin
  • Stars
    • Amy Bloom(voice)
    • Vince Brown
    • Patricia Clarkson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Soul of a People: Writing America's Story
    Clip 4:02
    Soul of a People: Writing America's Story

    Photos16

    Soul of a People: Writing America's Story (2009)
    Oliver Lukacs in Soul of a People: Writing America's Story (2009)
    Soul of a People: Writing America's Story (2009)
    Soul of a People: Writing America's Story (2009)
    Soul of a People: Writing America's Story (2009)
    Soul of a People: Writing America's Story (2009)
    Soul of a People: Writing America's Story (2009)
    Soul of a People: Writing America's Story (2009)
    Soul of a People: Writing America's Story (2009)
    Soul of a People: Writing America's Story (2009)
    Stetson Kennedy in Soul of a People: Writing America's Story (2009)
    Dennis Boni in Soul of a People: Writing America's Story (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Amy Bloom
    • Anzia Yezierska
    • (voice)
    Vince Brown
    • Additional Voices
    Patricia Clarkson
    Patricia Clarkson
    • Narrator
    Juanett T. Davis
    • Additional Voices
    Brantley M. Dunaway
    Brantley M. Dunaway
    • Additional Voices
    Gerard L. Farrow
    • Additional Voices
    Richard Ford
    • Jim Thompson
    • (voice)
    Jonathan Holloway
    • Richard Wright
    • (voice)
    Elmer Kelton
    • Vardis Fisher
    • (voice)
    Gary Logan
    • Additional Voices
    James McBride
    • Ralph Ellison
    • (voice)
    Marilyn Nelson
    • Zora Neale Hurston
    • (voice)
    Reynolds Price
    Reynolds Price
    • John Cheever
    • (voice)
    Karen Simon
    • Additional Voices
    • Director
      • Andrea Kalin
    • Writers
      • David A. Taylor
      • Olive Emma Bucklin
      • Andrea Kalin
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • September 6, 2009 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Smithsonian Channel
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Η ψυχή ενός λαού
    • Filming locations
      • Houston, Texas, USA
    • Production company
      • Spark Media
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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