Objects and Memory

Featuring narration by Frank Langella and music by Philip Glass, Jonathan Fein's documentary Objects and Memory focuses on the universal human penchant for linking physical objects with strong feelings of grief and remembrance, such as holding on to a deceased father's watch or keeping intact the bedroom of a son who died on a foreign battlefield. After traumatic events such as the Oklahoma City bombing and the 9/11 terrorist attacks, individuals (informally) and institutions (formally) will collect and venerate various objects, including bits of paper, twisted metal, and pocket possessions of the dead, while also creating ad hoc artworks and public shrines. Here, viewers will meet individuals and societies dedicated to preserving objects for historical purposes, while exploring related philosophical, psychological, and practical questions, ranging from why we collect things, to how curators make selections regarding what to preserve and display. DVD extras include deleted/extended scenes, and additional interviews. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)