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.

Roam Sweet Home
Theatrical release poster
Directed byEllen Spiro
Written byAllan Gurganus
Produced byEllen Spiro
Narrated byAllan Gurganus (as Sam the Dog)
CinematographyEllen Spiro
Edited byCraig Paull
Production
company
Independent Television Service
Distributed byVideo Data Bank
Release date
  • 1996 (1996)
Running time
57 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Premise

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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

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

References

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