An American Pastoral

An American Pastoral is a documentary focusing on the political and cultural tensions within the public education system of Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. The film explores how a local dispute over library books evolved into a broader struggle regarding the role of religion and secularism in schools. It follows a high-stakes school board election in Lancaster County, where far-right Christian nationalists seek to gain a majority to implement a theocratic agenda. The narrative depicts the conflict between these activists and citizens fighting to maintain democratic and secular values in the face of censorship and political division.

The film was directed and written by Auberi Edler and produced in France. The production was supported by companies including CNC, ARTE, PROCIREP, and Les Films d'Ici. The documentary features a credited cast of 25 people appearing as themselves, including James C. Emery, Kristy Moore, Tina M. Wilson, Kelly Fuddy, Terry L. Seiders, and James L. Read. Released on November 16, 2024, the film has a runtime of 119 minutes.