Independent Lens
Sam Now
A mother’s disappearance sends pain and mystery through her family. Sam Now looks at her son’s quest for answers — and healing.
Poetic License
Teenage poets give spoken word performances that allow them to candidly and poignantly express what it's like growing up in today's America.
- Premiere Date
- April 1, 2001
- Length
- 60 minutes
- Funding Initiative
- Open Call
Producer
David Yanofsky
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The Film
Performance poetry, or spoken word, is a growing force among teens. With roots as diverse as the West African Griot tradition, Native American oral storytelling and Beat Bebop, spoken word gives teens a chance to sort out complex issues, view their lives as a source of inspiration, and incorporate their own rhythms and language into art. Poetic License follows several young poets who mesmerize audiences as they candidly express what it's like to grow up in America today.
