Watch Two Trains Runnin'

Two Trains Runnin', a 2016 documentary film directed by Samuel D. Pollard, is an intriguing exploration of the early civil rights movement, the search for two forgotten blues musicians and a snapshot of America in the summer of 1964. Narrated by Common, with contributions from a range of activists, musicians and historians including Taylor Branch, Gary Clark Jr., and Dick Waterman, the film examines how two groups of young men, both white and black, went on separate journeys to find Skip James and Son House, two influential blues artists who had been virtually forgotten.

The film begins by looking at the Civil Rights Movement and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, tracking the events that led up to the Freedom Summer of 1964. It then follows the two groups of young men, one from the Northeast and one from California, as they travel separately through the deep south in search of Son House and Skip James.

Throughout their journey, they meet a variety of characters including a Mississippi police officer, a black blues singer named Big Joe Williams, and an elderly couple who offer the travelers refreshments and shelter. The travelers face their fair share of obstacles including racism, violence and intimidation, but they are ultimately successful in their quest, finding both Son House and Skip James.

The film is fascinating because it not only documents the search for the two blues musicians, it also gives insight into the social and political climate of the time. Through interviews with historians and activists, the film covers topics such as segregation, the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, the impact of the Civil Rights Movement and the importance of music in African American culture.

The film also uses archival footage and photographs to provide a glimpse of what life was like in the early 1960s, including images of sit-ins, churches being bombed and civil rights rallies. The footage is raw and powerful, providing an emotional punch that is difficult to forget.

One of the particularly interesting aspects of the film is the role of music in the Civil Rights Movement. The film shows how music was used to spread messages of hope and inspiration, and how musicians like Son House and Skip James helped to shape and define the blues genre that would ultimately influence generations of musicians to come.

Overall, Two Trains Runnin' is a captivating and thought-provoking documentary that will appeal to music lovers, historians and anyone interested in the fight for civil rights. The film provides a fascinating window into a particular moment in time and offers insight into the power of music to bring people together and inspire change.

Two Trains Runnin' is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 22 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6 and a MetaScore of 81.