The documentary offers a healthy, stimulating view of political opinion, but its most affecting elements are the small moments that Demme captures a frail Carter, in the company of Secret Service agents, carrying his own bags into a hotel, or a short conversation that Carter has with a little girl whose name reminds him of his favorite poet.

NEWYORKER: Jimmy Carter Man From Plains

"We want the supply of bags in advance so we don't fall short, " he said.

WSJ: Indian Fiber Weaves a Crisis

In that golden age, students cut short their studies, the elderly deferred their retirement, criminals hung up their swag bags everyone showed up for work in the new economy.

ECONOMIST: Are 5.1m Americans missing from the unemployment figures?