Our American Family

Watch Our American Family

  • 1969
  • 1 Season

Our American Family is a documentary television series produced by Legacy Media. The show chronicles the lives and experiences of several families across the United States, highlighting the unique and diverse cultures that make up the American family. Each episode is shot in a cinéma vérité style, with no scripted dialogue, allowing the audience to witness real-life moments and conversations.

The show’s purpose is to explore the values, attitudes, and customs of different families and communities, challenging stereotypes and celebrating diversity. The series features families from different ethnic, socioeconomic, religious, and geographic backgrounds, revealing their stories, struggles, and triumphs.

The production team spent months researching and selecting families to participate in the show, aiming to capture a wide range of perspectives and experiences. The families’ real-life moments are supplemented by interviews with family members, as well as archival footage and photographs, creating a rich and detailed portrait of each family’s journey.

The first season of Our American Family included six episodes, each focusing on a different family. The first episode followed the Montoyas, a Mexican American family living in rural Texas. The Montoyas shared stories of their Mexican heritage, their struggles with poverty and discrimination, and their pride in their culture.

The second episode showcased the Devers, an African American family from New Orleans. The Devers’ story addressed the ongoing impacts of Hurricane Katrina on their lives and the resilience of their community in the aftermath of the disaster.

The third episode focused on the Chuns, a Korean American family living in Los Angeles. The Chuns discussed their experience immigrating to the United States and balancing their Korean identity with their American citizenship.

The fourth episode highlighted the Smalls, a Jamaican American family from New York City. The Smalls discussed their journey as immigrants and their challenges adapting to a new culture, as well as their pride in their Jamaican heritage and the importance of family and community.

The fifth episode centered around the Lopezes, a Mexican American family from Arizona. The Lopezes shared their experiences growing up in a border community and navigating the complex politics and cultural dynamics of their region.

Finally, the sixth episode followed the Dunlaps, a white American family living in rural Kansas. The Dunlaps shared their experiences as farmers and the deep connection they feel to their land and their community.

Throughout the series, the families’ stories were woven together to create a tapestry of American life, highlighting the similarities and differences that make up our diverse nation. The show’s focus on real-life moments and unscripted dialogue creates a sense of intimacy and authenticity, allowing the audience to connect with the families on a personal level.

Our American Family is a compelling and thought-provoking series that challenges our assumptions about what it means to be American. The show celebrates the richness and beauty of our diverse cultures while also addressing the challenges and struggles that many families face. Ultimately, the series is a celebration of the human experience, demonstrating the resilience, courage, and compassion that we all share as we navigate the complexities of modern life.

Our American Family is a series that ran for 1 seasons (8 episodes) between and on Legacy Media

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Seasons
The Kurowskis
8. The Kurowskis
November 1, 2019
This episode explores the "mixed marriage" of a Native American (Oneida) woman and the son of Polish immigrants. His mother is resentful but Grace Kurowski maintains composure as she supports her husband Pete. Following a tragic accident, the family moves to a farm in the center of the reservation where their home becomes a gathering place for many of their neighbors.
The Bolducs
7. The Bolducs
November 3, 2017
To sustain their farm and dairy delivery in Gilford, NH, Charles and Aurora Bolduc taught their 13 growing children the values of hard work and helping others. Also owners of the world's longest continuously operating maple syrup operation, they carry on a centuries-old tradition of perseverance required to distill 30 gallons of sap into a single gallon of syrup.
The Mays
6. The Mays
October 1, 2016
Courage brought 17-year-old Jacob May to the US from Germany in 1879 in search of a better life. That same courage enabled his family to rescue 200 Jews from Nazi Germany. Deeply committed to one another, bolstered by good humor, theirs is a story of fearless hope and courage.
The Clarks
5. The Clarks
 
Our American Family: The Clarks traces the lives of this African-American family with seven children as they employ humor, resourcefulness and respect for all to move through the Great Depression, WWII, and racial tension.
The Furutas
4. The Furutas
 
Our American Family: The Furutas captures the story of a Japanese-American family. Following years in an Arizona relocation camp, their indomitable spirit prevails as they return home to California and band together to pursue the American dream a second time.
The Barreras
3. The Barreras
 
Life in the remote company-owned town of Madrid in the 1920s and '30s was a mixture of hard, dangerous work offset by the joy of baseball and celebrations. Our American Family: The Barreras tell the extraordinary story of a Latino American family with an unwavering commitment to staying together.
The Smiths
2. The Smiths
 
Our American Family: The Smiths profiles Willie and Rena Smith of Goldthwaite, Texas and their seven children. The film tells the story of a family whose patriach dies at an early age leaving the mother to raise seven children ages 18 months to 14 years old.
The Youngs
1. The Youngs
 
Our American Family: The Youngs profiles Darwyn Young, his wife Pauline and their eight children who labored as tenant farmers while nurturing a dream of one day owning their own land. The documentary chronicles their family journey, where reliance upon one another and their faith were the glue that held the family together through the extreme hardships of the Depression and the Great War.
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Where to Watch Our American Family
Our American Family is available for streaming on the Legacy Media website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Our American Family on demand at Amazon.