Plot Synopsis

The behind-the-scenes story of the making of "An American Family," the groundbreaking, 12-hour, documentary series that aired on PBS in 1973. The program chronicled the lives of the Louds, catapulting the middle-class Santa Barbara family to notoriety. The parents, Bill and Pat, struggled with their marriage while raising their children. In particular, Pat was criticized for her support of her openly gay son, Lance, at a time when homosexuality was rarely shown on television. Filmmakers Alan and Susan Raymond spent seven months filming the Louds in 1971, and were often at odds with producer Craig Gilbert about what content was appropriate to film. The series created a new genre: the reality TV series.