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An American Pastoral

Play trailer 1:47 Poster for An American Pastoral 2024 1h 58m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 12 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Ratings
In a quiet Pennsylvania town, a storm is brewing over the soul of its public schools. What begins as a debate over library books quickly reveals a deeper battle--one over religion, democracy, and the future of American education. Set in Elizabethtown, nestled in the heart of Lancaster County, An American Pastoral follows a high-stakes local school board race as it becomes a flashpoint for a national culture war. With far-right activists pushing a theocratic agenda and longtime public servants stepping down under threat, the town's once-routine school board meetings erupt into scenes of conflict and division. This gripping documentary captures the voices of citizens fighting to protect their schools--and the fragile promise of secular democracy--one ballot at a time.

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An American Pastoral

Critics Reviews

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Guy Lodge Variety Feb 26
Edler’s calmly watchful film trusts in viewers to see the national forest for the trees. Go to Full Review Robert Stinner In Review Online Mar 10
By focusing on the minutiae of a local election... Edler reveals much more about the current state of political affairs in the United States than one could by attempting a long view. The result is stark and foreboding. Go to Full Review Stephen Silver The SS Ben Hecht Mar 6
A fascinating doc which, in the Wiseman style, lets scenes play out, and tells people’s stories while granting them dignity and not editorializing Go to Full Review Lee Marshall Screen International Feb 26
Hardly a second too long despite its almost two-hour running time, this urgent, absorbing documentary should be required viewing for those, inside or outside the United States, who are struggling to make sense of the recent presidential election. Go to Full Review Betsy Bozdech AWFJ.org Feb 25
Auberi Edler'sfastidiously observational about the tense 2023 school board race in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, lays bare the deep, painful divides that plague virtually every aspect of life in the United States. Go to Full Review William Schwartz Book & Film Globe Feb 24
An all-too-rare look at what American democracy actually looks like in practice outside the quadrennial drama of the general election. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
An American Pastoral

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Cast & Crew

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Auberi Edler

Director

Serge Lalou

Producer

Auberi Edler

Cinematographer

Barbara Bascou

Film Editor
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An American Pastoral

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An American Pastoral

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Movie Info

Synopsis In a quiet Pennsylvania town, a storm is brewing over the soul of its public schools. What begins as a debate over library books quickly reveals a deeper battle--one over religion, democracy, and the future of American education. Set in Elizabethtown, nestled in the heart of Lancaster County, An American Pastoral follows a high-stakes local school board race as it becomes a flashpoint for a national culture war. With far-right activists pushing a theocratic agenda and longtime public servants stepping down under threat, the town's once-routine school board meetings erupt into scenes of conflict and division. This gripping documentary captures the voices of citizens fighting to protect their schools--and the fragile promise of secular democracy--one ballot at a time.
Director
Auberi Edler
Producer
Serge Lalou
Distributor
Film Movement
Production Co
Les Films d'Ici Méditerranée
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 13, 2026
Runtime
1h 58m