Film Lens
The film examines the impact of the Great Depression through personal stories and societal reflections. It features a narrator recounting experiences from childhood, including visits to a shanty town near Newark Airport where families lived in tents due to financial hardship. The narrator shares memories of their father, a cab driver, who struggled to provide for the family, illustrating the pervasive shame and desperation of the era.
The documentary also touches on broader themes of human creativity and endurance during tough times. It references the stock market crash of October 1929 and its aftermath, highlighting how people coped with poverty and uncertainty. The film suggests that moments of crisis can lead to new ways of thinking and social change, as seen through the lens of personal narratives and historical context.
Why Watch
- •See how personal stories reveal the effects of the Great Depression.
- •Find out what life was like in shanty towns near Newark Airport.
- •Meet individuals who turned to hitchhiking and train hopping for survival.
Did You Know
•The narrator's father was a cab driver during the Great Depression.
•The narrator hitchhiked across the country starting in June 1929.
•The stock market crash occurred in October 1929, leading to widespread despair.
Perfect For
History buffsFans of personal narrativesThose interested in economic crises