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America Reframed
Learning to Swallow
Season 3
Episode 12
The portrait of Patsy Desmond, an "it girl” who seemingly had it all yet struggled with bipolar disorder; a failed suicide attempt leaves her unable to swallow. Learning to Swallow captures Patsy’s raw honesty and wit even as she becomes increasingly frail. However, hope and an undying spirit prevail, renewing Patsy's pact with art and life.
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A Harlem playwright unearths the extraordinary pasts of his Bangladeshi immigrant parents.
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A family acts to rectify a systemic wrong after a mentally ill loved one's incarceration.
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A filmmaker chronicles his journey beyond walls after being incarcerated at San Quentin.
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1:23:50
A story of Kristal Bush's fight against the impact of mass incarceration in Philadelphia.
55:23
Exploring reparations to illuminate the scope and rationale of this complex debate.
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12:59
A journey into a brother's memories transform into a tool for reconciliation and healing.
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1:30:00
Local election officials work around the clock to secure the vote and uphold US democracy.
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1:26:21
Five female activists run for local office in a grassroots effort to take back their city.
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1:29:39
Artists and activists fight to redefine belonging on both sides of the Atlantic.
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1:25:44
How are the lives of mobile home park residents impacted by class and economic injustice?
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1:19:25
Sol Guy watches his late father’s tapes -- and confronts the choices of his father’s life.