Browse by Title
Browse by Title
Browse by Subject
Ordering Information
Educational Streaming
Sign up for our educational newsletter
Contact Us
Questions? Don't hesitate to call us at 212.243.0600 x20 or send us an email.

Educational / Non-Theatrical Sales
225_ordinarypeople.jpg
Extraordinary Ordinary People

Director - Alan Govenar
Run Time - 84 minutes
Language - English
Format - Digital
Year - 2017
Genre - Documentary

Educational Interests- American Studies, Art, Biographies/Profiles, Cultural Studies, Dance, Education, Media Studies, Music, Performance, New Releases

Institutional DVD Price: $195

Extraordinary Ordinary People is a music-fueled journey through folk and traditional arts in America. At a time when the existence of the National Endowment for the Arts has never been more threatened, Alan Govenar's documentary focuses on one of its least known and most enduring programs: the National Heritage Fellowship, awarded annually since 1982.

Featuring a breathtaking array of men and women who have been awarded the fellowship, including musicians, dancers, quilters, woodcarvers and more, the film demonstrates the importance of the folk and traditional arts in shaping the fabric of America. From Bill Monroe and B.B. King to Passamaquoddy basket weavers and Peking Opera singers; from Appalachia and the mountains of New Mexico to the inner city neighborhoods of New York, the suburbs of Dallas, and the isolated Native American reservations of Northern California - each of the artists share exceptional talent, ingenuity, and perseverance.

"Enjoyable and enticing! Govenar's knowledge and affection are contagious...he makes his case for the NEA by asking the simple question: What do we value? In his expansive view of American culture, that includes preserving native languages, recognizing the profundity of the blues, and honoring where we came from and what we've made in equal measure." - Serena Donadoni, The Village Voice

"A celebration of art, survival, and the riches of human experience. This exuberant film makes each art sampled, from oud playing to basket weaving to bobbin lace making, feel indispensable." - Regina Weinreich, Huffington Post

"Extraordinary Ordinary People' includes footage of some of the most significant artists of the past century, from bluegrass pioneer Bill Monroe to bluesman B.B. King. With budgets for the arts in peril, it couldn't come at a more opportune time." - Daniel Eagan, Film Journal International