Dust Bowls and Jewish Souls (virtual)

The name Woody Guthrie conjures images of Dust Bowl families from the 1930s fleeing their soil-ravaged farms, along with those famous lyrical phrases, “This land is your land, this land is my land. From California to the New York Island.” However, Woody”s horizons extended far beyond the dusty Oklahoma hills of his youth. Once his wanderings and ramblings brought him to New York City in the 1940s, he was introduced – both personally and professionally – into a vibrant Jewish culture that he wholeheartedly embraced and ultimately had a deep influence on his life and his music. Dust Bowls and Jewish Souls also weaves in the story of Aliza Greenblatt, an immigrant from Ukraine who later became a prominent Yiddish poet and songwriter — and who also happened to be Woody”s mother-in-law. From the dust storms of Oklahoma to the lox and bagels of Coney Island, discover a whole new side of Woody Guthrie that will forever change your view of one of America’s most celebrated songwriters and cultural icons.
WHY WE LIKE THIS FILM: Who would have thought that America”s most famous Dust Bowl balladeer held a deep, hidden connection to Jewish culture? Join us for an extraordinary Closing Night Event featuring “Dust Bowls and Jewish Souls,” the runaway hit of the current Jewish film scene! What began with director Steve Pressman’s surprising discovery of a Woody Guthrie Hanukkah song opened up an incredible web of history—most notably Guthrie”s profound, creative bond with his mother-in-law, a celebrated Yiddish poet. Packed with captivating anecdotes and iconic music, this documentary uncovers a unique cross-cultural story you’ve never heard before.
BONUS PROGRAMMING: AJFF interview with filmmaker Steven Pressman.

Showtimes

Virtual


Nov 20, 10:00 AM — Nov 29, 11:59 PM Central Standard Time (CST)

Need help with ticketing?  Email boxoffice@AustinJFF.org with your name, email address, and phone number. We can process ticketing over the phone. Please don’t wait until the last minute!

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DETAILS

YEAR: 2026
RUN TIME: 89 Minutes
LANGUAGE(S): English

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CONTENT RATING: Not Rated

CREDITS

DIRECTOR(S):Steven Pressman
SCREENWRITER(S):Steven Pressman, Lisa Stark
CAST:Arlo Guthrie Nora Guthrie, Aaron Lansky, David Amram, Lorin Sklamberg, Eleanor Reissa, Daniel Kahn, Michael Asch, Susanne Shavelson.

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