CIFF: "The Winding Stream" Charts the Path of Country Music's Origins

Sara Carter, Maybelle Carter and A.P. Carter

While scientists and physicists debate the universe's origins, there's no debate about the big bang of country music. Recording sessions held in 1927 in Bristol, Tenn., resulted in the debut of the Carter Family, made up of A.P. Carter, his wife Sara and her cousin Maybelle. The family from Maces Spring, Va., would go on to impact country, folk, bluegrass, gospel and even rock music.

June Carter and Johnny Cash

The Winding Stream takes a loving, musical look at the path carved by the family, whose music influenced a young Johnny Cash, who himself would go on to marry June Carter — one of Maybelle's three daughters. (Read our March article about the film here.)  The documentary is layered with classic recordings of Carter Family songs such as "Keep on the Sunny Side" and "Can the Circle Be Unbroken" and new and archived interviews with members of several generations of the family, including Johnny Cash. New recordings of Carter Family classics are performed throughout the movie by musicians such as Sheryl Crow, George Jones, Rosanne Cash, Kris Kristofferson and more.

The Cleveland International Film Festival runs through March 30 at Tower City Cinemas. To browse the schedule, visit clevelandfilm.org. The Winding Stream screens March 26 at 7 p.m. at the Cedar Lee Theatre and March 27 at 11:25 a.m. at Tower City Cinemas.