And So They Live

"And So They Live" is a stark and realistic documentary that portrays the lives of poorly educated "mountain peoples" in a southern rural community, grappling with poverty and disease. Directed by John Ferno and Julian Roffman, this film exposes the harsh realities faced by these families, emphasizing their resilience through strong familial bonds and the hope offered by potential improvements in education. It documents the significant gap between the everyday needs of the community—such as proper nutrition, sanitation, and basic healthcare—and the inadequate instruction provided by local schools. The film underscores the dire economic conditions and lack of resources, while advocating for an educational system better tailored to address the specific challenges of this impoverished region. Produced with a raw, unfiltered lens, it serves as both a critique of societal neglect and a call to adapt schooling to meet the practical needs of its people, offering a poignant look at rural life in mid-20th-century America.