American Folk

When their plane from Los Angeles to New York is grounded on the morning of September 11th 2001, strangers Elliott (Joe Purdy) and Joni (Amber Rubarth) are unexpectedly thrust together amidst the chaos of that historic day. With little in common but both needing to get to NYC urgently, they accept help from Joni's family friend Scottie (Krisha Fairchild) who lends the duo a rusty old 1972 Chevy Van. The shock and stress of 9/11 quickly threatens to derail their cross-country journey until the pair discover what they have in common: a love for old folk songs. Armed with a pile of guitars left in the van from Scottie's touring days, Elliott and Joni raise their voices together (and with those they meet on the road), rediscovering the healing nature of music and bearing witness to a nation of people who, even while mourning, manage to lift each other up in the wake of tragedy. (Santa Barbara International Film Festival)