Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives

Recollections by last-generation southern slaves, compiled by the WPA (Work Projects Administration) Federal Writers' Project during the 1930s, form the basis for this fine documentary, a joint venture of HBO Films and the Library of Congress, where most of the more than 2,000 original texts are stored. Excerpts are read by eighteen distinguished African-Americans, from Angela Bassett to Alfre Woodard, to illustrate the various facets of plantation life--many horrifying in their brutality, but some gruesomely amusing in their absurdity--and while the performances are all deeply felt, they're given even greater resonance by the decision not merely to present them as conventional voiceovers but to show us the actors preparing for their roles and commenting on the personas they're assuming. The spoken passages are complemented by visuals that include both archival materials and expert recreations, with the parts linked by Whoopi Goldberg's narration. As might be expected of an HBO production, the package has been very skillfully put together; it may, in fact, strike some viewers as a bit too slick. Yet there's no denying the power and poignancy of the piece, or its usefulness as a teaching tool. The DVD includes several bonuses: recordings of portions of two original interviews, transcripts of several others, and brief biographies of the former slaves whose recollections are included. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (F. Swietek)