Watch American Experience: The Pilgrims

American Experience: The Pilgrims is a 2015 documentary film directed by Ric Burns that explores the history and impact of the Pilgrims, an English religious minority who fled persecution in their homeland and settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620. The film offers a comprehensive look at the Pilgrims' journey, from their beginnings in England to their time in Holland, and finally their voyage across the Atlantic. Through interviews with historians, scholars, and descendants of the Pilgrims, the film offers insight into the motivations and struggles of these early settlers, as well as the physical and emotional toll of their journey.

The film delves into the religious and political climate of England at the time, revealing the deep divisions within the Church of England and the persecution faced by nonconformists like the Pilgrims. It also examines the Pilgrims' decision to leave their lives behind and make the perilous journey to the New World, where they faced new challenges and hardships.

The documentary emphasizes the importance of the Pilgrims' arrival in America as a turning point in American history. The settlers' determination and resilience, as well as their willingness to work together and establish a society based on democratic principles, helped lay the foundation for the United States.

The film also touches on the interactions between the Pilgrims and the native Wampanoag tribe, which were marked by both cooperation and conflict. The Wampanoag provided crucial assistance to the Pilgrims during their first winter in America, but tensions between the two groups eventually led to violence and bloodshed.

Throughout the film, archival images and footage are used to bring the story to life, and the narration by actor Oliver Platt provides context and insight. Interviews with historians and experts are mixed with dramatized reenactments, adding a human element to the story while remaining faithful to historical accuracy.

Overall, American Experience: The Pilgrims is an engaging and informative look at a pivotal moment in American history. The documentary succeeds in bringing the story of the Pilgrims to life and showing the lasting impact of their journey and legacy.

American Experience: The Pilgrims is a 2015 documentary with a runtime of 2 hours and 9 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3.