Smithsonian World: A Certain Age

Dancer/choreographer Agnes de Mille is spotlighted in this exceptional series of video portraits of senior citizens. If history often seems flat on the printed page, it surely bursts into three-dimensional fullness in the stories of these elderly Americans interviewed by the Smithsonian. One woman relates that the first big thing that happened to her was falling in love...at the age of 62; another elder celebrates his 100th birthday and recalls his days as a bellhop at the turn of the century, remembering that Puccini was "a great shopper," and a farmer--stricken by polio shortly after the birth of his son--painfully recalls the feeling that he would never be able to physically play with his son. With the increasing popularity and recognition of the importance of oral storytelling, the Smithsonian staff truly underscore the necessity for bringing the "human" element to the retelling of history. The stories told by the interviewees are not only interesting in and of themselves, but also shed light on important aspects of race, religion, politics, and society over the last century. In an age where we seem to be ambivalent, at best, in our attitudes towards the elderly, it's nice to see an experiment such as the one conducted by elementary school teacher Chris Payack, who takes her 4th and 5th grade students to a nursing home where they take notes and then write stories about their older friends. An excellent documentary. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (Available from: PBS Video, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314-1698; 1-800-424-7963.)