Roam Sweet Home

1996 American film

1996 (1996)

Running time

57 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish

Roam Sweet Home is a 1996 American documentary film directed by Ellen Spiro. In road-trip style, it follows the lives of retirees who live on the road full-time in trailers, due to economic necessity, pleasure, or bot.

Premise

Filmmaker Spiro and her dog, Sam, join a community of American nomads in order to explore their unconventional lifestyle first hand. Through Spiro's innovative and interpersonal style of filmmaking she captures the spirit of the roamers and the wide variety of reasons they abandoned the more traditional means of retirement. One group of women discusses the thrill of independence and sheer freedom they discovered after escaping repressive relationships. Another expounds upon the pleasures of traveling unencumbered throughout the country.

The film is narrated by Spiro's dog, Sam, with the voice provided by Allan Gurganus, who shares his perspective on the whims and follies of human nature. Aging himself, Sam adds an emotional perspective through his musings on death and the journey through life.

Awards

Grand Prize at the Big Muddy Film Festival
National Media Owl award presented by Gene Siskel for the Retirement Research Foundation

References

Johnson, Jerry. Roam Sweet Home. Austin Chronicle. 1997–11–7. Retrieved on 2007–6–12.
McDonald, Scott. The Garden in the Machine: A Field Guide to Independent Films About Place. University of California Press. Berkeley and Los Angeles California. 2001. Retrieved on 2007–6–25.
Roam Sweet Home: ITVS presents Ellen Spiro's Inside Look at Life on the Road. Independent Television Service. 1997–5–28. Retrieved on 2007–6–12.
Independent Television Service (ITVS): Press Release. 1997–5–28. Retrieved on 2007–6–12.