Search - A Cemetery Special on DVD

Moderately Entertaining and Enlightening

Susan K. Schoonover | Boulder, CO | 08/16/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This one hour "special" that originally aired on PBS in 2005 is adequately produced and gives the viewer some interesting information about the history of "burying grounds" in the US. Beautiful and historic cemeteries including Mt. Auburn in Boston, Oakland in Atlanta and Lakeview in Cleveland are given special prominence. An unusual cemetery in Vermont containing many beautiful granite monuments made from native stone is also one of the more memorable features. Cemeteries in suburban San Francisco, Waterloo, New York, Key West, Florida and Fairbanks, Alaska are included. This is not a sad, morbid or spooky film at all and it even has touches of humor. Encouragement of preservation of cemeteries for their beauty, history and cultural significance is a major theme as is the advantages of using these often lovely places for activities far removed from funerals."

For the Living

Jeffery Mingo | Homewood, IL USA | 06/01/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Some people say, "Funerals are for the living." This documentary tries to add, "Cemeteries should be for the living." This work shows many ways in which the living show their respects for or fascination with the dead. You see baseballs placed near the graves of league players. There are Stars of David for deceased Jewish individuals and tombstones written in Chinese for deceased Chinese. They show veterans honoring the war dead. One Rockefeller gave out many dimes, so living persons place dimes on his grave.

This work is diverse in terms of the dead and the living. For example, the first Black mayor of Atlanta is buried in the same cemetery as some Confederate soldiers. The work is diverse in terms of geography. However, they only show a rural grave at the very end, unlike the mostly suburban and big city graves with which they begin. I enjoyed the inclusive message here, however, historically many a cemetery was rigidly divided based upon race and class.

You will see no visitors crying here. The goal of the work is to demystify burial grounds. However, for some that is not radical. Many know that these areas can be sites of learning. It's why we study pyramids for example. Those who celebrate the Day of the Dead are not afraid of death as others are. The documentary makers may think they are being more revolutionary than they actually are. Plus, the narrator has an annoying voice."