American Folk stars singer/songwriters Amber Rubarth and Joe Purdy as two strangers who end up on a cross-country trip together in the wake of 9/11. Folk music is the characters' bond, and the film's soundtrack is dominated by Rubarth and Purdy's unadorned versions of traditional songs like "Oh! Susanna" and "Red River Valley." Rubarth and Purdy's performances, both alone and together, gain emotional impact from their intimate settings. Folk-flavored cuts by John Prine and Jerry Garcia (with David Grisman) vary things while adding some extra grit.