Educational Media Reviews Online

In Search of Thoreau provides a well -organized and informative look into the life and work of Henry David Thoreau. However, weak narration, visual and audio content detract from the overall enjoyment of the film.

The film's organization and progression are clear, and well thought out. The film is divided in "chapter like" segments, with a title screen for each chapter. It begins with Thoreau's childhood, moves through his education at Harvard, then explores his friendship with fellow Concord resident, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and finishes with Thoreau's Walden experiment and his role in the anti-slavery movement.

Narration is crucial in documentary films. It is the primary means of imparting the film's factual content. In Search of Thoreau is no exception ; it relies on narration. The narration takes two forms -- as a voice-over to the visual photograph and footage of Walden Pond, and as a scene unto itself. As a voice-over the narration works well. We are able to assimilate the facts being presented, while concentrating on the visual images that are enhancing the spoken content. What does not work are the scenes that we actually see the narrator. On several occasions we see scenes that contain close -up shots of the narrator, standing in a wooded area. The narrator seems uncomfortable, and shifts nervously. In these scenes, we get the impression, he is reading from off camera cue cards, as his sentences are often broken in awkward intervals.

Visually, the film uses many commonly used techniques, such as interview footage with two Thoreau scholars, photographs, "live" footage of Walden Pond and environs, as well as re-enactments of scenes from Thoreau's life. Many of the images are repetitive ; we see the same scene of Thoreau chopping wood three times. The re-enactment scenes are supposed help the viewer imagine "being there." However, the few scenes that do appear in the film are poorly done. We see Thoreau chopping wood and sitting down in the woods. These scenes are do not seem to lend themselves to significantly enhance the understanding of Thoreau and his life. Moreover, we are able to notice the actor's twentieth century shoes and clothes.

Despite it's flaws, this film is recommended. It is one of the few films currently available to explore Henry David Thoreau's life, writings, and philosophies. It is recommended for a college audience who is familiar with Thoreau's writings, and is also recommended for an advanced secondary school audience who has read Walden, and wishes to delve deeper into Thoreau's philosophies.