Ken Burns on His Latest War of Independence Documentary: ‘We Won’t Work on a More Important Film’

The veteran filmmaker has evolved into not just a historical storyteller; his name is a franchise, a prolific creative force. When he has documentary series heading for the PBS network, everyone seeks his attention.

He participated in “an astonishing number of podcasts”, he notes, nearing the end of nine-month promotional tour comprising numerous locations, dozens of preview events plus countless media sessions. “There seems to be a podcast for every citizen, and I believe I’ve appeared on most of them.”

Thankfully the filmmaker is incredibly dynamic, as expressive in conversation as he is prolific during post-production. The veteran director has gone everywhere from Monticello to popular podcasts to talk about his latest monumental work: this historical epic, a monumental six-part, 12-hour documentary series that consumed a substantial portion of his recent years and arrived this week through the public broadcasting service.

Defiantly Traditional Approach

Like slow cooking in today’s rapid-consumption era, this documentary series is defiantly traditional, more redolent of historical documentary classics as opposed to modern online content and podcast series.

However, for the filmmaker, who has built a career exploring national heritage covering diverse cultural topics, the revolutionary period transcends ordinary historical coverage but foundational. “I recently told collaborator Sarah Botstein recently, and she concurred: we won’t work on a more important film Burns states during a telephone interview.

Comprehensive Scholarly Work

Burns, co-directors Botstein and David Schmidt plus scripting partner Geoffrey Ward referenced thousands of books plus archival documents. Numerous scholars, covering various ideological backgrounds, provided on-air commentary along with leading scholars covering various specialties including slavery, indigenous peoples’ narratives and imperial studies.

Characteristic Narrative Method

The documentary’s methodology will appear similar to fans of historical documentaries. Its distinctive style featured gradual camera movements over historical images, generous use of period music featuring talent voicing historical documents.

Those projects established Burns established his reputation; decades afterwards, currently the elder statesman of documentary filmmaking, he can attract any actor he chooses. Participating with Burns at a recent event, acclaimed writer Lin-Manuel Miranda commented: “When Ken Burns calls, you say ‘Yes.’”

Remarkable Ensemble

The lengthy creation process also helped in terms of flexibility. Recordings took place at professional facilities, in relevant places using online technology, a tool embraced amid COVID restrictions. Burns explains the experience with performer Josh Brolin, who found a few free hours in Atlanta to perform his role as George Washington prior to departing to subsequent commitments.

The cast includes numerous acclaimed actors, Jeff Daniels, Morgan Freeman, Paul Giamatti, diverse creative professionals, multiple generations of actors, Samuel L Jackson, Michael Keaton, Tracy Letts, British and American talent, skilled dramatic performers, small and big screen veterans, Dan Stevens, Meryl Streep.

Burns adds: “Honestly, this could represent the finest ensemble ever assembled for any movie or television show. Their contributions are remarkable. Their celebrity status wasn’t the criteria. It irritated me when questioned, about the prominent cast. I responded, ‘These are performers.’ They are among the world’s best performers and they can bring this stuff alive.”

Multifaceted Story

Nevertheless, no contemporary observers remain, visual documentation forced Burns and his team to rely extensively on historical documents, integrating the first-person voices of multiple revolutionary participants. This allowed them to present viewers not only to the “bold-faced names” of the revolution plus numerous additional who are seminal to the story”, many of whom lack visual representation.

Burns also indulged his individual interest for geography and cartography. “Maps fascinate me,” he notes, “featuring increased geographical representation in this project compared to previous works I’ve done combined.”

Global Significance

The team filmed at numerous significant sites in various American regions and British sites to preserve geographical atmosphere and collaborated substantially with historical interpreters. All these elements combine to present a narrative more brutal, complicated and internationally important versus conventional understanding.

The documentary argues, represented more than local dispute concerning territory, taxes and political voice. Conversely, the project presents a violent confrontation that finally engaged multiple global powers and unexpectedly manifested what it calls “mankind’s greatest hopes”.

Internal Conflict Truth

What had begun as a jumble of grievances aimed at the crown by American colonists throughout multiple disputatious regions rapidly became a vicious internal war, dividing communities and households and creating local enmities. During the second installment, scholar Alan Taylor notes: “The primary misunderstanding regarding the Revolutionary War centers on assuming it constituted a unifying experience for colonists. It leaves out the reality that Americans fought each other.”

Sophisticated Interpretation

In his view, the revolutionary narrative that “generally is drowning in sentimentality and nostalgia and lacks depth and insufficiently honors for what actually took place, every individual involved and the widespread bloodshed.”

It was, he contends, a revolution that proclaimed the transformative concept of the unalienable rights of people; a brutal civil war, dividing revolutionaries and royalists; and a worldwide engagement, the fourth in a series of struggles among European powers for the “prize of North America”.

Uncertain Historical Outcomes

The filmmaker also sought {to rediscover the