Few American demographics are more easily caricatured than Deadheads, those swirling, dosing, hippy-dressed vagabonds. But in his infinitely sweet and wise documentary, director Mischa Richter offers us the Deadheads as complex, self-aware and resourceful members of a wandering commune, one that's admirable for its kindness and care.
Our central subjects, Jerry and Annie, set off in their van to follow Dead and Co.-the most recent successor to the original band-on its final tour. They make just enough money busking (Jerry, of course, is a gifted guitarist) to get by.
With editing by Jay Rabinowitz, Summer Tour flows along like a Dead song, riffing and jamming and offering tiny sparks of delight along the way. As it progresses, the film presents a certain irresistible logic to the Deadhead way of life. At a moment when the modern world is spinning into uncertain social, political, environmental and technological terrain, perhaps we should all get on the bus.
25.00.
Presented by DOCFest