Bound for Glory

Set in 1936 during the Great Depression, the film follows Woody Guthrie as he drifts across towns and trains to perform for hungry crowds. The era is defined by unemployment, strikes, and the rise of grassroots activism, with music serving as a call to solidarity. The period emphasizes personal sacrifice in pursuit of social justice through art.

The film travels through the Depression-era American landscape—from a gas station and local bar to Los Angeles’ soup kitchens, migrant camps, and crowded railroad yards. It captures the shifting environments where work is scarce and hope is scarce but music remains a lifeline. The settings highlight the stark contrast between wealth and poverty and the itinerant life of performers and workers.

✊ Protest & Labor

Guthrie’s songs become anthems for workers and migrants, shaping public sentiment and fueling union momentum. The film portrays clashes with company guards and the suppression of dissent, as well as the personal costs of standing up for the oppressed. It demonstrates how art can mobilize crowds and challenge power structures.

🎨 Artistic Integrity

Guthrie resists ‘safe’ tunes and instead channels workers’ struggles into truthful music. His defiance creates conflict with producers and risks professional setbacks, but preserves authenticity. The story centers on the price and power of maintaining artistic integrity.

🌾 Poverty & Migration

The Depression drives families to migrate for work, pushing Guthrie to perform for migrant camps and factory workers. The film paints hunger, cramped living conditions, and the constant search for opportunity. It contrasts rural hardship with the possibility of change through music.