America ReFramed brings to life compelling stories, personal voices and experiences that illuminate the contours of our ever-changing country. Since 2012, the series has premiered 170 films - more than half helmed by female makers and a third credited to BIPOC makers - centering stories of the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities, the formerly incarcerated, veterans, immigrants and more.
At 45, Laury, an actress and mother of two, had a reputation as the quickest wit in the room. At 46, she began forgetting words and soon could barely speak. Follow Laury in her descent to fronto-temporal dementia (early onset dementia) in a personal portrait of a woman who is facing the unthinkable and the impact her progressive disease has on loved ones in Looks Like Laury, Sounds Like Laury.
A conversation between America ReFramed's host Natasha Del Toro and filmmaker Sandra Jaffe (Our Mockingbird).
When Joe Wilson announces he is to wed a man, controversy ignites his small hometown. Drawn back by a plea for help from the mother of a bullied gay teen, Wilson’s journey illustrates the challenges of being an outsider in a conservative environment and the transformation that is possible when those who have long been constrained by a traditional code of silence summon the courage to break it.
A conversation between America ReFramed's host Natasha Del Toro, and filmmakers Andres Caballero & Sofian Khan (Gaucho del Norte).
A conversation between America ReFramed's host Natasha Del Toro and filmmaker John Richie (Shell Shocked).
Musician & psychiatrist Clark Wang prepares for his own green burial while battling lymphoma, determined that his last act will be a gift to the planet. Boldly facing his mortality, Clark and partner Jane have inspired a local cemeterian, and together they aim to use green burial to save a North Carolina woods from being clear-cut.
New Orleans is one of the "murder capitals" of the U.S.; statistics show murder rates are 4-6x higher than the national average. 80% of the victims are black males, mostly in their teenage years. Shell Shocked starts at the surface of the teen murder epidemic and delves into the hearts and minds of those whose lives are most deeply impacted.
A conversation between America ReFramed's host Natasha Del Toro and Dr. David Gunther (Boston Center for Refugee Health & Human Rights) about the documentary American Heart.
New Orleans is one of the "murder capitals" of the U.S.; statistics show murder rates are 4-6x higher than the national average. 80% of the victims are black males, mostly in their teenage years. Shell Shocked starts at the surface of the teen murder epidemic and delves into the hearts and minds of those whose lives are most deeply impacted.
Set upon building a new school, New Haven claims eminent domain over the Upper Hill neighborhood. With community leaders and a lawyer, a group of neighbors, mostly low-income African-American families, take the case to court. The Hill is a fascinating look at the complex issues surrounding urban planning, gentrification and economic renewal.
In the '80s, the desegregation of U.S. public schools peaked, but since then, schools have become even more segregated (Civil Rights Project). Our Mockingbird highlights the experiences of teens from two Birmingham, Alabama high schools -- one all black and one all white -- who collaborate on a production of the play, “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
A Skype conversation between America ReFramed's host Natasha Del Toro & filmmaker Andrew Garrison (Trash Dance).
Gaucho del Norte tells the story of a Patagonian sheepherder recruited to work in Idaho. The nomadic journey follows Eraldo Pacheco and his herd of more than a thousand sheep across a lonely, rugged landscape. He faces the ups and downs of a psychologically and physically demanding job far away from family, questioning whether or not it's worth it.
A conversation between America ReFramed's host Natasha Del Toro and filmmaker Rodrigo Reyes (Purgatorio).
In Minnesota, devoted doctors in a primary care clinic meet the health care needs of refugees and immigrants wrestling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as chronic and compounded prognoses. In addition to medication, they treat their patients with spoonfuls of hope, cultural competency and compassion.
Allison Orr found inspiration in the movement of garbage trucks and graceful dynamics of the workers who operate them. She transforms the skepticism and reluctance of her subjects into a complete commitment to dance. On an abandoned runway, the sanitation professionals and their trucks perform a stunning spectacle, awing an audience of thousands.
The trailer of the third season of documentary series AMERICA REFRAMED.
Leaving politics aside, Rodrigo Reyes’ Purgatorio looks anew at the U.S./Mexico border and the people caught in its spell. The evocative Dantesque essay film presents the border as a mythical place exploring the vulnerability of the human soul, the violence man creates and the destruction left in its wake.
Check out the new streaming service from Cascade PBS, which pairs your PBS favorites with an ever-growing selection of TV series and films from around the world. Enjoy dedicated mobile and TV apps.
