Pick of the Day: The Dustbowl (DVD)

The Dustbowl. 2 DVDs. 4 hrs. Prod. by The Dust Bowl Film Project. Dist. by PBS Dist. 2012. ISBN 978-1-608883-718-2. $24.99.
Gr 9 Up–Ken Burns, whose name is synonymous with the highest quality of documentary filmmaking, has turned his camera’s eye to the environmental and economic catastrophe that struck America’s heartland in the 1930s. After detailing the calamity’s prelude involving the easy credit available to farmers and the general lack of respect for the ecology of the land, the production methodically retraces the stages which led to the devastation of the agriculture-based society of our nation’s midsection and our glacially paced recovery during the already disastrous Great Depression. Highlighted are the effects on the everyday lives of a cross-section of people as well as how the turndown distressed our country on a broader level. As is typical of Burns’s other masterpieces (including Civil War, Prohibition, and Baseball), he utilizes a rich variety of stunning vintage photographs, black-and-white film footage, commentary by historians, and—most moving of all—the personal reminiscences of those who actually witnessed the events. The angst and frustration felt by the people of the Plains was as intense as their determination to persevere, even to the point of relocating their families; it was this strength of spirit that led them to become what has been called the “Greatest Generation” as the threat of a future war loomed. The program has a number of viewer-friendly options: scene selection, English and/or Spanish subtitles, video description for the visually impaired, and a full Spanish narration. Bonus sections include an expansion of the personal narratives as well as a short behind-the scenes review. (An accompanying book is also available, although it is was not previewed.) A must-have for all libraries.–Dwain Thomas, formerly Lake Park High School, Roselle, IL