Product Details
Director :
Ken Burns
Actor :
David McCullough
Format : NTSC, Widescreen
Aspect Ratio : 1.33:1
Binding : DVD
EAN : 9781415702567
Product Group : DVD
Release Date : 2004-09-28
Studio :
PBS Home Video
UPC : 097368859142
ASIN : B0002JP52C
Editorial Reviews
From Amazon.com
From America's documentarian Ken Burns (The Civil War, Baseball, Jazz) comes this intimate portrait of a "serene creed" whose members considered themselves America's "chosen people." They called themselves the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, but because of their ecstatic dancing, they are more popularly known as the Shakers. Its members put their "hands to work and their hearts to God," creating a legacy of fine and priceless furniture and magnificent architecture. A model for the world's utopians, the Shakers believed in social, economic, and spiritual equality, and in pacifism, feminism, and joyful personal worship. They also believed in celibacy, which is why, when Burns filmed this in 1989, there were but a dozen Shakers left in America. On-location footage, contemporary interviews with historians and present and former members, and dramatic voice-overs culled from diaries create a moving portrait of the Shakers and "[keep] the light shining bright." --Donald Liebenson
Customer Reviews
Excellent documentary that left me wanting more (2004-07-06)
Ken Burns brings his inimitable style and "emotional archaeology" to one of the most fascinating and least understood religious sect in American history.
I love the images and the sweeping scope of the narration. But that is where I have to fault the film -- I don't think it goes deep enough. Some of the most engaging images and topics are treated with only a cursory touch. I wanted to hear and learn much more.
Unlike Burns' later work, this film actually felt a bit rushed in places.
As a primer on the Shakers, this film is virtually peerless, but I'm afraid it had me asking more questions than it answered. Still and all, it is beautiful and compelling.****1/2
Excellent Documentary (2004-04-17)
This Shakers documentary is well done - although not long enough or detailed as I had hoped. Even so, the information presented is more than sufficient to give the viewer an understanding of the who the Shakers are and were. As a religious sect a little more than two hundred years old and dying like the Puritans and other religious experiments, there really is not much to tell about the Shakers. Hence brevity is appropriate - since added minor details might detract from the documentary.
As a person who tries to understand the origin of art, music, song, poetry, and literature I was curious about the Shakers because of Aaron Copland's piece in Applachian Spring. The music reflected a simpler time and slower pace than the technological rat race Americans know today. This film shows Shakers had the right idea of an elementary communal life style uncomplicated by unneeded private possessions. It is interesting to note that the subtitle "Hands To Work, Hearts To God" is exactly what is expressed by Catholic monks like the Benedictines and Cistercians whose theme of "Work and Prayer" is the foundation of their monasteries.
Good, but what about the Socialisim references? (2003-09-18)
This video was helpful in my studies of the Communial Communities that sprung up around the US in the advent of our country. However, I was unhappy that the director omitted the fact that these communities depict early socialist ideals. It is important in the understanding of where American Socialist movements began or where their inspiration may have come from. I recommend this movie if you are looking for religous movement info or insight on the first religous "Great Awakenning" that took place in the US.
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