Educational Media Reviews Online

This documentary-style video is based on the play of the same name by Kaiulani Lee. Lee also plays the character Rachel Carson in the video. The details of her biography are revealed through “Two Interviews with Rachel Carson” (video subtitle screen) staged at Carson’s cottage on Southport Island, Maine. Unless the viewer is quite familiar with Ms. Carson and the impact of her 1962 book Silent Spring, it may take a bit of time to really get comfortable with Ms. Lee’s excellent portrayal.

Once comfortable with Lee’s characterization of Carson though, Carson’s courage in promoting the ideas she championed in Silent Spring while fighting terminal cancer and worrying about providing for the future of her adopted son, Roger, becomes the central message of this beautifully filmed video. Kaiulani Lee captures the strengths of Carson’s convictions, her resolve in overcoming corporate and governmental interests that would suppress the findings of her work, and her tenacity in fighting and winning the first major battle for environmental conservation. Rachel Carson was one strong, capable woman with ample courage and the self-assurance to air the scientific evidence of the impact of pesticides on the biosphere.

A Sense of Wonder is highly recommended. Much as John Muir championed the preservation of natural wilderness as part our children’s heritage, Carson championed the need to monitor the effect of chemicals in the environment, and the regulation of pesticides, banning them if necessary, as part of our responsibility in ensuring our children’s natural heritage. Rachel Carson deserves study as a scientist, environmentalist and modern woman. Her scientific heritage is covered very well in Lessons from Carson, featuring David Suzuki, and other environmental leaders. The interview with Roger Carson, Rachel’s adopted son is also quite rewarding.