Pocahontas Revealed

If your knowledge of Pocahontas stems solely from the animated Disney classic, this NOVA-aired entry will offer plenty of surprises. Although the story of Pocahontas has been steeped in American mythology ever since Capt. John Smith arrived with members of the first successful English settlement in the New World on May 13, 1607, Pocahontas Revealed (broadcast on PBS in the summer of 2007 to correspond with the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement) not only sets the record straight, but also places added emphasis on the heretofore underreported Native American perspective. Combining expert testimony together with dramatic recreations of historical events, this documentary focuses on the discovery of countless New World-era artifacts on the uncovered historical site of Werowocomoco, capital of Chief Powhatan's tribe, where Smith's life was spared thanks to the intervention of Pocahontas (Powhatan's rebellious daughter), whose name—an interviewee tells us—roughly translates as "little cruel bawdy undisciplined brat." As local Native Americans participate in the painstaking archaeological digging, the program honors their heritage with authentic recreations of Powhatan tribal life, including Smith's capture and subsequent relationship with Pocahontas (which some experts speculate was sexually intimate). Their story remains tragic: after Smith returned to England, Pocahontas was told that he died; when she later traveled to England and discovered that Smith was still alive, their brief reunion was deeply bittersweet. DVD extras include printable materials for educators. A fine (and somewhat corrective) companion piece to Terrence Malick's 2005 feature film The New World, this is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Shannon)