Watch Ken Burns: The Address

Ken Burns: The Address is a documentary film directed by Ken Burns that explores the history and impact of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. The documentary was released in 2014 to coincide with the 151st anniversary of the famous speech. The film is centered around the Greenwood School in Putney, Vermont. The school is a small institution that was founded in 1978 as a school that exclusively educates boys with learning differences such as dyslexia, ADHD, and executive functioning issues. Every year, the students at the school are required to memorize and recite the Gettysburg Address.

The film begins by introducing the audience to the students at the Greenwood School and their struggles with memorizing the Gettysburg Address. The students are shown learning the speech by breaking it down into small parts, rehearsing with their peers, and using creative memorization techniques such as creating music videos and mnemonic devices.

Throughout the film, the students’ recitations of the Gettysburg Address are interspersed with historical context and analysis of the speech. Ken Burns uses interviews with historians and experts on Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War to provide a deeper understanding of the historical significance of the speech and the impact it still has today.

One of the central themes of the film is the idea that the Gettysburg Address is not just a speech that was given in the past, but a living document that continues to inspire people today. The film shows how the speech has been used by various groups throughout history, including civil rights activists, suffragettes, and soldiers in wartime.

Ken Burns also explores myths surrounding the Gettysburg Address, such as the belief that Lincoln wrote the speech on the back of an envelope on the train to Gettysburg. The documentary provides historical context by showing how the speech was actually crafted and the role it played in shaping the outcome of the Civil War.

The film culminates with the students at Greenwood School delivering their recitations of the Gettysburg Address in front of their peers and families. The students’ pride and sense of accomplishment is evident as they stand up and recite the speech from memory.

Overall, Ken Burns: The Address is a moving and insightful documentary that explores the power and enduring impact of the Gettysburg Address. By intertwining the stories of the students at Greenwood School with historical context and analysis, Ken Burns creates a powerful narrative that highlights the importance of memory, recitation, and the continued relevance of the speech.

Ken Burns: The Address is a 2014 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes.