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Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune

From civil rights to the anti-war movement to the struggles of workers, folksinger Phil Ochs wrote topical songs that engaged his audiences in the issues of the 1960s and 70s. In this biographical documentary, veteran director Kenneth Bowser shows how Phil's music and his fascinating life story and eventual decline into depression and suicide were intertwined with the history-making events that defined a generation. Even as his contemporaries moved into folk-rock and pop music, Phil followed his own vision, challenging himself and his listeners. Not one to pull punches, Ochs never achieved the commercial success he desperately desired. But his music remains relevant, reaching new audiences in a generation that finds his themes all too familiar.

Top Cast

  • Phil Ochs

    Phil Ochs

    Self (archive footage)

  • Tom Paxton

    Tom Paxton

    Self

  • Jello Biafra

    Jello Biafra

    Self

  • Christopher Hitchens

    Christopher Hitchens

    Self

  • Billy Bragg

    Billy Bragg

    Self

  • Joan Baez

    Joan Baez

    Self

  • Ed Sanders

    Ed Sanders

    Self

  • Pete Seeger

    Pete Seeger

    Self

  • Sean Penn

    Sean Penn

    Self

Overview

From civil rights to the anti-war movement to the struggles of workers, folksinger Phil Ochs wrote topical songs that engaged his audiences in the issues of the 1960s and 70s. In this biographical documentary, veteran director Kenneth Bowser shows how Phil's music and his fascinating life story and eventual decline into depression and suicide were intertwined with the history-making events that defined a generation. Even as his contemporaries moved into folk-rock and pop music, Phil followed his own vision, challenging himself and his listeners. Not one to pull punches, Ochs never achieved the commercial success he desperately desired. But his music remains relevant, reaching new audiences in a generation that finds his themes all too familiar.

Rating

6.6 / 10
7 Reviews
0 Popular

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