In the fall of 2009, the acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns released his newest project: a six-episode documentary history of America's National Parks. Spanning twelve hours, the film covers the history of the National Park idea, the history of the park service, and some of the history of the parks themselves. Interwoven throughout the narrative are stories about ordinary people who played a role in the history of the parks, whether as a leader in the National Park Service like Stephen Mather or as visitors to the parks, like the Gehrke family from Nebraska.
Having been a fan of Ken Burns' other works like The Civil War, I made sure to catch the series during its original airing in September 2009. Burns and his co-writer, Dayton Duncan, have done an excellent job of outlining the history of the parks through the eyes of people. Much of the first episode is dedicated to John Muir, who became instrumental in spreading the gospel of nature to people in the last part of the 19th century. Later episodes focus on people such as Theodore Roosevelt, Stephen Mather, Horace Albright, and so on. Sticking with the documentary style that made him famous, Burns utilizes still photographs to help illustrate the story he is telling. There are also scenic live-action shots in many of the parks; Burns almost seems to utilize the scenery of our National Parks as an additional character in the movie. And finally, there are interviews with several experts, such as Carl Pope from the Sierra Club, to help illustrate the story.
Visually, this film is exceptional. The film crew spent several years filming parks in all different seasons and times of day, and the inherent natural beauty of the United States alone would make this film worth watching. I now own the documentary on Blu-Ray, and it looks even better. At times, the story feels a little slow, particularly (for me) in the second episode. However, there are stories throughout the film that are small gems -- such as the story of the Gehrkes, a couple from Nebraska who visited several parks throughout their marriage. Using old scrapbooks, diaries and photos, the film shows the couple's visit by train to the Grand Canyon, followed by the camping trips in their new Buick a few years later, and ends with Mrs. Gehrke's final solo trip to Rocky Mountain National Park after her husband had passed away.
What I think this film does extremely well is exploring and attempting to explain the emotional and visceral reaction that the parks can have on people. John Muir, the self-proclaimed "mountain prophet," seemed to understand this when he said "Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean." The film seems to underline and bold this premise.
Finally, a word must be said about the music in this film. It is absolutely beautiful and accompanies the cinematography very well. Burns has used Peter Ostroushko, Jay Ungar & Molly Mason -- all artists he has used before to provide music for his films. Jay Ungar & Molly Mason did the "Ashokan Farewell," the main theme heard in The Civil War. The main theme heard in the film is The Mallard Island Hymn, and it is great to listen to just on its own.
The National Parks: America's Best Idea is a great addition to any park lover's collection. Currently, it is also available on Netflix, in both the streaming & mail option. For more information on the film, go to www.pbs.org/nationalparks.
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