Carved From the Heart: A Portrait of Grief, Healing & Community

A gut-wrenching journey into the heart of a man and a community, Ellen Frankenstein's latest documentary is an emotional powerhouse (and you may well shed a few tears). Stan Marsden is a resident of the small city of Craig, Alaska, a member of the Tsimpsean Tribe, and a master woodcarver. He is also a father who lost a son to a cocaine overdose. Unable to display his grief through traditional channels, Marsden decided that a totem pole dedicated to the memory of his son would be a way of cleansing himself. How this totem became a symbol of healing not just for a man but for an entire community is the subject of Carved From the Heart, a film which works well on a number of levels: as a look at grief counseling, a glimpse into the dark depression found in so many Native American communities, and an examination of generational chasms that destroy families. The audience for this film is vast: high school students, counselors and their patients, community workers, Native American organizations, and--hopefully, if enough libraries have the funds for it--the general public. A powerful video, not soon to be forgotten. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Carlson)