Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock with American Experience
In August 1969, half a million young people from all walks of life journeyed from every corner of the country to a dairy farm in upstate New York for a concert unprecedented in scope and influence – Woodstock.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of this historic event, CET and ThinkTV16 will air Woodstock: American Experience on Tuesday, August 6, at 9pm. This film examines the tumultuous decade that led to those three days — years that saw the nation deeply divided by Vietnam and racial, generational and sexual politics — through the voices of those who were present for the event that would become the defining moment of the counterculture revolution.
“For three days in August, 1969, the values of ‘peace and love,’ loudly championed by the counterculture movement, were actually put to the test in the miserable conditions at Woodstock,” Director Barak Goodman said in a press release. “The more than 400,000 people who attended the festival proved that they were more than just words. For a surprising number of people, that brief encounter with sacrifice, cooperation and generosity changed their lives. I think Woodstock continues to inspire because the grace demonstrated there was real and enduring.”
Unlike Michael Wadleigh’s classic 1970 documentary, Woodstock turns the cameras around to focus on individuals who were there — from concert goers to security guards to performers to local residents. Woodstock expands our understanding of the event as not only an unparalleled musical milestone, but as a once-in-a-century cultural phenomena. Interviewees include festival producers and staff including Donald Goldmacher, Carol Green, Michael Lang, John Morris, John Roberts and Joel Rosenman; activist Wavy Gravy; festival attendees and others.
Woodstock is available to stream now with CET Passport or ThinkTV Passport. The first chapter is also available to stream below or on the PBS Video App.
