An American Pastoral

In a quiet Pennsylvania town, a storm is brewing over the soul of its public schools. What begins as a debate over library books quickly reveals a deeper battle — one over religion, democracy, and the future of American education. Set in Elizabethtown, nestled in the heart of Lancaster County, An American Pastoral follows a high-stakes local school board race as it becomes a flashpoint for a national culture war. With far-right activists pushing a theocratic agenda and longtime public servants stepping down under threat, the town’s once-routine school board meetings erupt into scenes of conflict and division. This gripping documentary captures the voices of citizens fighting to protect their schools—and the fragile promise of secular democracy — one ballot at a time.

• Auberi EdlerDirector
• Auberi EdlerWriter
• Siegfried CantoOriginal Music Composer

• James C. EmerySelf
• Kristy MooreSelf
• Tina M. WilsonSelf
• Kelly FuddySelf
• Terry L. SeidersSelf
• James L. ReadSelf
• Danielle D. LindemuthSelf
• Stephen T. LindemuthSelf
• Karen R. NellSelf
• Craig M. HummerSelf
• Michael D. MartinSelf
• Don LambSelf