The War - A Film By Ken Burns and Lynn Novick
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 Ken Burns Elevates WWII to "The War" There is a saying that goes something like, "Those who don't know their history are condemmed to relive it." Or in a less scolding tone, how do you know where you're going if you don't know where you've been? While few would argue that The United States of America isn't rich with stories and adventures of personal achievement what with the so called winning of the West, the age of industrialization, and our rise to becomming a world superpower being an active part of our mythology. Or is it? Gore Vidal once refered to the citizens of this fair country as "The United States of Amnesia," suggesting many Americans remember very little of their foreground and even less of their background. Yet for anyone old enought to have experienced the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and our long hard struggle to bring World War Two to a peaceful resolution both in the Pacific and Europe, this three and one half year-plus event is most likely sealed in personal memory along with the other milestones of life such as marriages, births and deaths of loved ones. One reason World War II, or as the producers have aptly named their 14 hour overview of this world changing experience, "The War," had such an impact on our citizens is that everyone, and I do mean everyone, took an active part in bringing this world disaster to a successful conclusion. But that was then and this is now and today, the military veterans or living historians of "The War" are dying as are many of the other participants - the wives, friends and relatives of our brave veterans and almost as important, their first hand recollections and memories of this world shapping event are dying as well. Fortunately for all who worry of such things, we have a national historian among us with the ability to keep our history alive especially for those who don't even like history. His name is Ken Burns and he is a film maker with the talents of a master story teller as evidenced by such interesting perspectives on American life as "Baseball" and "Jazz" and most especially "The Civil War." Now or within a few days, we will have Ken Burns and Lynn Novick's living perspective of the Second World War or "The War" to appreciate and enjoy for as long as we care to know more about ourselves both as individuals and collectively as a nation of citizens. I, for one, 'am more than pleased. Only the biggest subjects in the American experience. I do wait with anticipation for Ken Burns next work. We are all aware of his momumental Baseball. It is the definitive masterpiece. So very American, & personally my two favorite subjects, history & baseball. It isn't just a sport, it is a part of our history warts & all. Before that he did The Civil War. Without fear of argument, THE event in United States history & will be for as long as this nation survives. It illustrates the best & the worst of us. More recently his treatment of that most American of music, Jazz. Now, World War II, the most world changing event or series of events ever. His focus will be it's impact on America. I'm confident he'll do it justice. Based on the interview with Adam Corolla Ken Burns spoke of this series on the Adam Corolla show recently. From what he and Adam said about this series, I'm waiting with anticipation for the release date. According to what I heard in the interview, the way it captures a moment in our history, the way it allows the viewer to feel connected with individual soldiers and the people in their lives, and the way it sheds light on how much we as a society have changed in the last 60 years sounds like something that can't be missed out on. The fact that he takes 14 hours to express these ideas makes this that much more of an experience. | |||||||||||
