About the film
American Hollow is a 1999 American documentary directed and produced by Rory Kennedy. The film follows the extended Bowling family, who live in a valley in Perry County, eastern Kentucky, over the course of a year. Its focus on one family and one place gives the documentary a specific lens on life in the region.
The film’s music was composed by Bill Frisell. A novel with the same title, authored by Kennedy, was released alongside the film in 1999. American Hollow runs 90 minutes and is in English.
It is listed as a documentary film, with the United States as its country. Rory Kennedy is credited as both director and producer. For viewers interested in family stories and documentary portraits rooted in a particular community, the film offers an account following the Bowling family through a year in their Kentucky valley.
Who it is for
It may suit viewers interested in family-centered documentaries and life in eastern Kentucky. Its English-language presentation and 90-minute runtime may also fit classroom or individual viewing.
Worth knowing
- Follows the Bowling family over a year
- Set in Perry County, Kentucky
- Music composed by Bill Frisell
- Directed and produced by Rory Kennedy
Before you press play
- The film focuses on one extended family
- Its setting is a valley in eastern Kentucky
The short of it
American Hollow offers a yearlong portrait of the Bowling family in their Kentucky community. Consider it if you want a documentary focused on one family and place.