Independent Lens Season 10 Episode 20 At Home in Utopia

At Home in Utopia, an episode of season 10 of Independent Lens, explores the phenomenon of Jewish left-wing utopianism in the early 20th century in the United States. The documentary takes us on a journey through the lives of some of the inhabitants of the cooperative housing developments established by Jewish socialists in the Bronx during the 1920s and 30s.

The episode begins by giving us a glimpse into the broader historical context of the time and the factors that led to the creation of these utopian communities. We see how the influx of Eastern European Jewish immigrants into the United States in the early 20th century brought with it a radical leftist political ideology, rooted in the socialist and communist movements that emerged in Europe.

Soon after settling in the United States, these Jewish socialists began to organize themselves and form communities that would allow them to live out their vision of a socialist society. They began to establish cooperative housing developments that were meant to be self-sufficient and self-governed, with everything from healthcare and education to food and clothing production being shared and managed collectively.

The documentary then takes us deeper into the lives of some of the people who lived in these cooperative housing developments. We meet a woman who was born and raised in one of these communities, and who tells us about the sense of community and solidarity that she experienced growing up there. We also hear from a man who was part of a group of young Jewish activists who took over an abandoned building in the Bronx and turned it into a cooperative living space.

As we learn more about these communities and the people who lived in them, we also get a sense of the challenges that they faced. The episode touches on the tensions that existed between the different factions within the Jewish socialist movement, as well as the conflicts that arose between the cooperative housing developments and the outside world.

At Home in Utopia also gives us a glimpse into the cultural life of these communities. We see how the residents of these cooperative housing developments created their own cultural institutions, such as theaters and Yiddish schools, where they could celebrate their heritage and express their political beliefs.

Perhaps most importantly, the episode shows us how the ideals of these Jewish socialist utopian communities continue to resonate with people today. We see how the values of community, solidarity, and collective action that were at the heart of these communities are still relevant to many people who are seeking to build a better world.

Overall, At Home in Utopia is a powerful and engaging documentary that sheds light on a little-known aspect of American history. It is a moving exploration of the lives and struggles of a group of people who dared to dream of a better world, and who worked tirelessly to make that dream a reality.