Educational Media Reviews Online

Some say that history is written by the victors. What does that tell us about oral history? This question is one of the many thought-provoking questions at the heart of Passage, a documentary about a disputed incident in nineteenth-century British history.

In the early 1800s, British explorer Sir John Franklin and a crew of more than one hundred men sailed to the Arctic to locate a Northwest Passage to Asia. No one returned alive. Over time, two theories emerged regarding the outcome of the expedition.

The British establishment, including the Royal Navy, Sir Franklin’s widow, and even Charles Dickens, asserted that Sir Franklin and his crew had accomplished their goal but were murdered by native Inuit before they could return. John Rae of the Hudson Bay Company, whose beliefs were based in part on the oral history of the Inuit, claimed not only that the explorers had failed to find a Northwest Passage, but also that they had gone mad trying.

Passage blends behind-the-scenes research with costumed drama: the audience sees actors reading scripts, learning about their characters, and acting. This hybridization gives the viewer an odd sense of having “been there,” yet not. For a story in which eyewitness oral accounts contradict second-hand written history, the technique is both interesting and appropriate.

The film can be watched for educational enrichment, or for pleasure. It could enhance lessons in history, anthropology, Arctic studies, and even literary studies. It is recommended for high school, college and general adult audiences. Awards

• Best Director & Best Cinematography, Atlantic Film Festival
• Best Documentary Program, 2009 CFTPA Indie Awards