Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street (2021) | agoodmovietowatch
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Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street 2021

A loving tribute and intelligent account of the radical origins of one of the great children's TV programs

Our Take (by Emil Hofileña)

For kids and kids-at-heart who find Jim Henson’s technical mastery of puppets riveting, this documentary on the classic and still-contemporary Sesame Street provides a ton of behind-the-scenes footage that’s endlessly fun to watch. Street Gang rebuts any arguments that could be made about children’s TV being low-effort—showing just how much craft is needed in a show like this. But more importantly, the film’s first act illustrates the risky process of building Sesame Street from the ground-up, specifically as programming for inner-city Black children who weren’t getting the education they deserved. It’s nothing short of an inspiration to see this ragtag group of creatives and communication experts—none of whom wanted to take sole credit—coming together like a superhero team to create one of the most iconic and enduring TV shows in American history.

Notable Critics

"A documentary you won't be mad you watched."

— Zosha Millman

"Agrelo steers clear of the straight-up hagiography that plagues so many docs framed as tributes to their subjects."

— Alison Willmore

Synopsis

Take a stroll down Sesame Street and witness the birth of the most influential children's show in television history. From the iconic furry characters to the classic songs you know by heart, learn how a gang of visionary creators changed the world.

Awards

Sundance

1 nomination

Nominated: Official Selection

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About the author

Emil Hofileña

Emil Hofileña

Emil Hofileña is a curator at A Good Movie to Watch. He also writes as a theater critic, with work published in Rogue and Out of Print, among others. He’s probably crying over a movie or an episode as we speak.