Two American Families 1991-2024 (2024)
“A knockout documentary …At a time when so much documentary television feels generic, disposable and even straightforwardly pointless, this is both a master work unto itself and a glaring reminder of what is largely absent in television narrative nonfiction.”
Margaret Lyons, The New York Times
“… intriguing and entertaining”
Boston Globe
“If the people weren’t so decent, it would be difficult to watch. But they are decent, even heroic.”
Wall Street Journal
Wall Street Journal
“… a rebuke to the fantasy, dear to certain (wealthy) politicians, that
any family can (and some of them say) survive on a single paycheck. Bootstraps can lift you only so far”
Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
“One of the most moving and riveting and upsetting documentaries I’ve seen in quite some time”
Margery Eagan, WGBH Boston Public Radio
Margery Eagan, WGBH Boston Public Radio
“Powerful … think of it as the American Seven Up”
Economic Hardship Reporting Project
Economic Hardship Reporting Project
The American Dream And Other Fairy Tales (2022)
“an entertaining, easy-to-digest film to explain the inequality hiding in plain sight.”
Variety
“makes an extremely powerful, timely and important statement”
Hollywood Reporter
an essential look at the realities facing the American workforce”
Film Threat
Sundance Film Festival (World Premiere)
Hot Docs (International Premiere)
Telluride Mountain Film Festival
Traverse City Film Festival
The Armor of Light (2015)
“impressive … thoughtful and moving … compelling real-life drama”
Hollywood Reporter
“Fascinating”
Washington Post
“Electrifying”
Village Voice
“powerful, provocative”
Vanityfair.com
“The only time I’ve cried more during a movie than the first time I saw The Armor of Light was probably the second time I saw The Armor of Light … it is a beautiful, conflicted piece of work”
Vulture
One “of the year’s most powerful documentaries … Astonishing”
rogerebert.com
“Gripping”
Christian Science Monitor
“Intelligent and emotionally charged”
Variety
“Compelling … a vital colloquy on whether we shape our lives through fear or with love.”
Los Angeles Times
“Saw ‘The Armor of Light’ tonight. My heart is still pounding. Must must must see.”
Tweet from New York Times Sunday Styles reporter Katie Rosman
“The Armor Of Light is an enormously powerful documentary about God and guns”
Tweet from New York Magazine film critic Bilge Ebiri
An “effective conversation starter, a chronicle of morally grounded politics that deploys some sound reasoning.”
New York Times
“A moving portrait”
Mother Jones
“Bold”
New York Post
“Powerful”
Nell Minnow, Beliefnet
“… offers a look at the issue of gun control with fresh eyes … what makes the film more than a political pamphlet is the integrity and curiosity with which directors Abigail Disney and Kathleen Hughes approach the topic of faith.”
The Daily Beast
“Insightful”
Common Sense Media
“Powerful”
Starpulse.com
a “highlight of the [Boston GlobeDocs] festival”
WBUR, Boston
“… a courageous look at our fractured political culture, and an assertion that it is, indeed, possible for people to come together across deep party lines to find common ground.”
Shockya.com
People Magazine “People Picks” selection
Tribeca Film Film Festival selection – world premiere, April 2015
Montclair Film Festival selection
IFC Film Festival selection
Bentonville Film Festival selection
Galway Film Festival – Best International Film (tie)
Traverse City Film Festival – Founders Prize Special Award
GlobeDocs Film Festival selection
Hamptons International Film Festival selection
Heartland Film Festival selection
Tallgrass Film Festival – Outstanding Documentary Feature Award
Key West International Film Festival Selection
Shortlisted for 2017 Peabody Award
“an entertaining, easy-to-digest film to explain the inequality hiding in plain sight.”
Variety
“makes an extremely powerful, timely and important statement”
Hollywood Reporter
an essential look at the realities facing the American workforce”
Film Threat
Sundance Film Festival (World Premiere)
Hot Docs (International Premiere)
Telluride Mountain Film Festival
Traverse City Film Festival
The Armor of Light (2015)
“impressive … thoughtful and moving … compelling real-life drama”
Hollywood Reporter
“Fascinating”
Washington Post
“Electrifying”
Village Voice
“powerful, provocative”
Vanityfair.com
“The only time I’ve cried more during a movie than the first time I saw The Armor of Light was probably the second time I saw The Armor of Light … it is a beautiful, conflicted piece of work”
Vulture
One “of the year’s most powerful documentaries … Astonishing”
rogerebert.com
“Gripping”
Christian Science Monitor
“Intelligent and emotionally charged”
Variety
“Compelling … a vital colloquy on whether we shape our lives through fear or with love.”
Los Angeles Times
“Saw ‘The Armor of Light’ tonight. My heart is still pounding. Must must must see.”
Tweet from New York Times Sunday Styles reporter Katie Rosman
“The Armor Of Light is an enormously powerful documentary about God and guns”
Tweet from New York Magazine film critic Bilge Ebiri
An “effective conversation starter, a chronicle of morally grounded politics that deploys some sound reasoning.”
New York Times
“A moving portrait”
Mother Jones
“Bold”
New York Post
“Powerful”
Nell Minnow, Beliefnet
“… offers a look at the issue of gun control with fresh eyes … what makes the film more than a political pamphlet is the integrity and curiosity with which directors Abigail Disney and Kathleen Hughes approach the topic of faith.”
The Daily Beast
“Insightful”
Common Sense Media
“Powerful”
Starpulse.com
a “highlight of the [Boston GlobeDocs] festival”
WBUR, Boston
“… a courageous look at our fractured political culture, and an assertion that it is, indeed, possible for people to come together across deep party lines to find common ground.”
Shockya.com
People Magazine “People Picks” selection
Tribeca Film Film Festival selection – world premiere, April 2015
Montclair Film Festival selection
IFC Film Festival selection
Bentonville Film Festival selection
Galway Film Festival – Best International Film (tie)
Traverse City Film Festival – Founders Prize Special Award
GlobeDocs Film Festival selection
Hamptons International Film Festival selection
Heartland Film Festival selection
Tallgrass Film Festival – Outstanding Documentary Feature Award
Key West International Film Festival Selection
Shortlisted for 2017 Peabody Award
“makes an extremely powerful, timely and important statement”
Hollywood Reporter
an essential look at the realities facing the American workforce”
Film Threat
Sundance Film Festival (World Premiere)
Hot Docs (International Premiere)
Telluride Mountain Film Festival
Traverse City Film Festival
The Armor of Light (2015)
“impressive … thoughtful and moving … compelling real-life drama”
Hollywood Reporter
“Fascinating”
Washington Post
“Electrifying”
Village Voice
“powerful, provocative”
Vanityfair.com
“The only time I’ve cried more during a movie than the first time I saw The Armor of Light was probably the second time I saw The Armor of Light … it is a beautiful, conflicted piece of work”
Vulture
One “of the year’s most powerful documentaries … Astonishing”
rogerebert.com
“Gripping”
Christian Science Monitor
“Intelligent and emotionally charged”
Variety
“Compelling … a vital colloquy on whether we shape our lives through fear or with love.”
Los Angeles Times
“Saw ‘The Armor of Light’ tonight. My heart is still pounding. Must must must see.”
Tweet from New York Times Sunday Styles reporter Katie Rosman
“The Armor Of Light is an enormously powerful documentary about God and guns”
Tweet from New York Magazine film critic Bilge Ebiri
An “effective conversation starter, a chronicle of morally grounded politics that deploys some sound reasoning.”
New York Times
“A moving portrait”
Mother Jones
“Bold”
New York Post
“Powerful”
Nell Minnow, Beliefnet
“… offers a look at the issue of gun control with fresh eyes … what makes the film more than a political pamphlet is the integrity and curiosity with which directors Abigail Disney and Kathleen Hughes approach the topic of faith.”
The Daily Beast
“Insightful”
Common Sense Media
“Powerful”
Starpulse.com
a “highlight of the [Boston GlobeDocs] festival”
WBUR, Boston
“… a courageous look at our fractured political culture, and an assertion that it is, indeed, possible for people to come together across deep party lines to find common ground.”
Shockya.com
People Magazine “People Picks” selection
Tribeca Film Film Festival selection – world premiere, April 2015
Montclair Film Festival selection
IFC Film Festival selection
Bentonville Film Festival selection
Galway Film Festival – Best International Film (tie)
Traverse City Film Festival – Founders Prize Special Award
GlobeDocs Film Festival selection
Hamptons International Film Festival selection
Heartland Film Festival selection
Tallgrass Film Festival – Outstanding Documentary Feature Award
Key West International Film Festival Selection
Shortlisted for 2017 Peabody Award
an essential look at the realities facing the American workforce”
Film Threat
Sundance Film Festival (World Premiere)
Hot Docs (International Premiere)
Telluride Mountain Film Festival
Traverse City Film Festival
The Armor of Light (2015)
“impressive … thoughtful and moving … compelling real-life drama”
Hollywood Reporter
“Fascinating”
Washington Post
“Electrifying”
Village Voice
“powerful, provocative”
Vanityfair.com
“The only time I’ve cried more during a movie than the first time I saw The Armor of Light was probably the second time I saw The Armor of Light … it is a beautiful, conflicted piece of work”
Vulture
One “of the year’s most powerful documentaries … Astonishing”
rogerebert.com
“Gripping”
Christian Science Monitor
“Intelligent and emotionally charged”
Variety
“Compelling … a vital colloquy on whether we shape our lives through fear or with love.”
Los Angeles Times
“Saw ‘The Armor of Light’ tonight. My heart is still pounding. Must must must see.”
Tweet from New York Times Sunday Styles reporter Katie Rosman
“The Armor Of Light is an enormously powerful documentary about God and guns”
Tweet from New York Magazine film critic Bilge Ebiri
An “effective conversation starter, a chronicle of morally grounded politics that deploys some sound reasoning.”
New York Times
“A moving portrait”
Mother Jones
“Bold”
New York Post
“Powerful”
Nell Minnow, Beliefnet
“… offers a look at the issue of gun control with fresh eyes … what makes the film more than a political pamphlet is the integrity and curiosity with which directors Abigail Disney and Kathleen Hughes approach the topic of faith.”
The Daily Beast
“Insightful”
Common Sense Media
“Powerful”
Starpulse.com
a “highlight of the [Boston GlobeDocs] festival”
WBUR, Boston
“… a courageous look at our fractured political culture, and an assertion that it is, indeed, possible for people to come together across deep party lines to find common ground.”
Shockya.com
People Magazine “People Picks” selection
Tribeca Film Film Festival selection – world premiere, April 2015
Montclair Film Festival selection
IFC Film Festival selection
Bentonville Film Festival selection
Galway Film Festival – Best International Film (tie)
Traverse City Film Festival – Founders Prize Special Award
GlobeDocs Film Festival selection
Hamptons International Film Festival selection
Heartland Film Festival selection
Tallgrass Film Festival – Outstanding Documentary Feature Award
Key West International Film Festival Selection
Shortlisted for 2017 Peabody Award
Sundance Film Festival (World Premiere)
Hot Docs (International Premiere)
Telluride Mountain Film Festival
Traverse City Film Festival
The Armor of Light (2015)
“impressive … thoughtful and moving … compelling real-life drama”
Hollywood Reporter
“Fascinating”
Washington Post
“Electrifying”
Village Voice
“powerful, provocative”
Vanityfair.com
“The only time I’ve cried more during a movie than the first time I saw The Armor of Light was probably the second time I saw The Armor of Light … it is a beautiful, conflicted piece of work”
Vulture
One “of the year’s most powerful documentaries … Astonishing”
rogerebert.com
“Gripping”
Christian Science Monitor
“Intelligent and emotionally charged”
Variety
“Compelling … a vital colloquy on whether we shape our lives through fear or with love.”
Los Angeles Times
“Saw ‘The Armor of Light’ tonight. My heart is still pounding. Must must must see.”
Tweet from New York Times Sunday Styles reporter Katie Rosman
“The Armor Of Light is an enormously powerful documentary about God and guns”
Tweet from New York Magazine film critic Bilge Ebiri
An “effective conversation starter, a chronicle of morally grounded politics that deploys some sound reasoning.”
New York Times
“A moving portrait”
Mother Jones
“Bold”
New York Post
“Powerful”
Nell Minnow, Beliefnet
“… offers a look at the issue of gun control with fresh eyes … what makes the film more than a political pamphlet is the integrity and curiosity with which directors Abigail Disney and Kathleen Hughes approach the topic of faith.”
The Daily Beast
“Insightful”
Common Sense Media
“Powerful”
Starpulse.com
a “highlight of the [Boston GlobeDocs] festival”
WBUR, Boston
“… a courageous look at our fractured political culture, and an assertion that it is, indeed, possible for people to come together across deep party lines to find common ground.”
Shockya.com
People Magazine “People Picks” selection
Tribeca Film Film Festival selection – world premiere, April 2015
Montclair Film Festival selection
IFC Film Festival selection
Bentonville Film Festival selection
Galway Film Festival – Best International Film (tie)
Traverse City Film Festival – Founders Prize Special Award
GlobeDocs Film Festival selection
Hamptons International Film Festival selection
Heartland Film Festival selection
Tallgrass Film Festival – Outstanding Documentary Feature Award
Key West International Film Festival Selection
Shortlisted for 2017 Peabody Award
Telluride Mountain Film Festival
Traverse City Film Festival
The Armor of Light (2015)
“impressive … thoughtful and moving … compelling real-life drama”
Hollywood Reporter
“Fascinating”
Washington Post
“Electrifying”
Village Voice
“powerful, provocative”
Vanityfair.com
“The only time I’ve cried more during a movie than the first time I saw The Armor of Light was probably the second time I saw The Armor of Light … it is a beautiful, conflicted piece of work”
Vulture
One “of the year’s most powerful documentaries … Astonishing”
rogerebert.com
“Gripping”
Christian Science Monitor
“Intelligent and emotionally charged”
Variety
“Compelling … a vital colloquy on whether we shape our lives through fear or with love.”
Los Angeles Times
“Saw ‘The Armor of Light’ tonight. My heart is still pounding. Must must must see.”
Tweet from New York Times Sunday Styles reporter Katie Rosman
“The Armor Of Light is an enormously powerful documentary about God and guns”
Tweet from New York Magazine film critic Bilge Ebiri
An “effective conversation starter, a chronicle of morally grounded politics that deploys some sound reasoning.”
New York Times
“A moving portrait”
Mother Jones
“Bold”
New York Post
“Powerful”
Nell Minnow, Beliefnet
“… offers a look at the issue of gun control with fresh eyes … what makes the film more than a political pamphlet is the integrity and curiosity with which directors Abigail Disney and Kathleen Hughes approach the topic of faith.”
The Daily Beast
“Insightful”
Common Sense Media
“Powerful”
Starpulse.com
a “highlight of the [Boston GlobeDocs] festival”
WBUR, Boston
“… a courageous look at our fractured political culture, and an assertion that it is, indeed, possible for people to come together across deep party lines to find common ground.”
Shockya.com
People Magazine “People Picks” selection
Tribeca Film Film Festival selection – world premiere, April 2015
Montclair Film Festival selection
IFC Film Festival selection
Bentonville Film Festival selection
Galway Film Festival – Best International Film (tie)
Traverse City Film Festival – Founders Prize Special Award
GlobeDocs Film Festival selection
Hamptons International Film Festival selection
Heartland Film Festival selection
Tallgrass Film Festival – Outstanding Documentary Feature Award
Key West International Film Festival Selection
Shortlisted for 2017 Peabody Award
The Armor of Light (2015)
“impressive … thoughtful and moving … compelling real-life drama”
Hollywood Reporter
“Fascinating”
Washington Post
“Electrifying”
Village Voice
“powerful, provocative”
Vanityfair.com
“The only time I’ve cried more during a movie than the first time I saw The Armor of Light was probably the second time I saw The Armor of Light … it is a beautiful, conflicted piece of work”
Vulture
One “of the year’s most powerful documentaries … Astonishing”
rogerebert.com
“Gripping”
Christian Science Monitor
“Intelligent and emotionally charged”
Variety
“Compelling … a vital colloquy on whether we shape our lives through fear or with love.”
Los Angeles Times
“Saw ‘The Armor of Light’ tonight. My heart is still pounding. Must must must see.”
Tweet from New York Times Sunday Styles reporter Katie Rosman
“The Armor Of Light is an enormously powerful documentary about God and guns”
Tweet from New York Magazine film critic Bilge Ebiri
An “effective conversation starter, a chronicle of morally grounded politics that deploys some sound reasoning.”
New York Times
“A moving portrait”
Mother Jones
“Bold”
New York Post
“Powerful”
Nell Minnow, Beliefnet
“… offers a look at the issue of gun control with fresh eyes … what makes the film more than a political pamphlet is the integrity and curiosity with which directors Abigail Disney and Kathleen Hughes approach the topic of faith.”
The Daily Beast
“Insightful”
Common Sense Media
“Powerful”
Starpulse.com
a “highlight of the [Boston GlobeDocs] festival”
WBUR, Boston
“… a courageous look at our fractured political culture, and an assertion that it is, indeed, possible for people to come together across deep party lines to find common ground.”
Shockya.com
People Magazine “People Picks” selection
Tribeca Film Film Festival selection – world premiere, April 2015
Montclair Film Festival selection
IFC Film Festival selection
Bentonville Film Festival selection
Galway Film Festival – Best International Film (tie)
Traverse City Film Festival – Founders Prize Special Award
GlobeDocs Film Festival selection
Hamptons International Film Festival selection
Heartland Film Festival selection
Tallgrass Film Festival – Outstanding Documentary Feature Award
Key West International Film Festival Selection
Shortlisted for 2017 Peabody Award
Two American Families (2013)
“‘Two American Families’ … will take its place among the central documents of our time.”
George Packer, The New Yorker
“Extraordinary”
David Rohde, The Atlantic
“Watch Two American Families right now … “It’s one of the best, and most heartbreaking, documentaries I’ve seen this year.”
Alex Pareene, Salon
“… a potent treatise on the U.S.’ struggling middle class … it demands to be seen and discussed.”
Brian Lowry, Variety
“Watch it, and if your blood isn’t boiling by the end, check your pulse.”
Greg Kaufmann, The Nation
“Heartbreaking … If this documentary was a study in anything, it was in the grace and resilience with which these two families met the incoming tide and their cheerfulness in the face of impossible odds.”
Emma Brockes, The Guardian
“Powerful”
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
“The details of particular scenes are striking and moving”
PopMatters (8 out of 10 stars)
“Much like the series of Up documentaries by Michael Apted, visiting the same small group of people over every seven years of their life, Bill Moyers and Frontline have produced a series of intimate, involving studies … Moyers brings, as always, two things missing from many TV reports on economic issues: perspective and compassion.”
David Bianculli, TV Worth Watching
“America got it’s own Up Series”
Tweeted by Gawker senior writer Nitasha Tiku
“I can’t recommend “Two American Families” highly enough … The film touches on so many big issues — the credit crunch; what’s waiting for latch-key kids; jobs going overseas and not returning; the mortgage bust; how money, or its absence, can strangle the love out of a marriage — but effortlessly, without lecturing.
Previously.TV
“… stunningly thought provoking, and if I were you I’d not waste another second on this review but would cruise over to PBS.org and start streaming it. Right now.”
The Jesuit Post
United States of ALEC (2012)
“Most people have no idea what ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, is or does, but everyone should…. Bill Moyers is helping get the word out”
Washington Post
“Iron Man 3 just opened this past weekend, followed soon by more would-be blockbusters. I’m sure a lot of these movies will be entertaining, but none will be more important or relevant than … ‘The United States of ALEC'”
Huffington Post
Blueprint America: Beyond The Motor City (2010)
“… well-constructed …”
Washington Post
“Watch this! … a cool documentary.”
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Blueprint America: Road To The Future (2009)
“[This] show made the questions and precedents of transportation planning feel local and approachable and immediate, which is not a small civic accomplishment”
The Infrastructurist
