Lost in the Movies: Writing film columns (& more) at The Laker

Earlier this year, I began writing articles on random subjects for a group of free local publications in New Hampshire, and in July this transitioned into a regular column for The Laker, titled "Granite State Scene & Heard". The subjects usually, if not always, are related to the state (accompanied by listings of retro screenings for upcoming weeks). Each month on Lost in the Movies, I'll share a round-up of cross-posts to the digital versions of these issues, including the page numbers where the columns can be found.

First up, in July - just in time for the quarter-millennial anniversary of the Declaration of Independence - I wrote about Ken Burns, who has worked out of Walpole, New Hampshire for forty years. In particular, I focused on his most recent documentary The American Revolution which I was in the midst of watching at the time; I've since finished it and moved on to re-watching The Civil War (one of my favorite films of all time - and also discussed in this column). Part of what fascinates me in these two projects, and Burns' work in general, is the different approach depending on what firsthand material the given historical period does or doesn't offer to the filmmakers. Incidentally, among the most eye-catching illustrations Burns deploys are those from the William Blake-esque memoirs of Sergeant Roger Lamb, which I'm using above and below in this cross-post.