Filmmaker Ken Burns said Saturday that he wants to tell the story of three of the most famous Roosevelts, their strengths and weaknesses, in an upcoming documentary on one of America’s most famous political families.
He previewed part of the 14-hour series that will air next year during a reunion of the extended Roosevelt family at the former polio clinic in rural Georgia that President Franklin Roosevelt purchased after coming to seek a cure for his crippled legs. Roosevelt built a home here known as the Little White House, where he died in 1945.
Burns’ film explores the political and family ties between President Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor. The filmmaker acclaimed for documentaries on the Civil War, baseball and World War II said he aimed for an honest portrayal of political figures who were sometimes reduced to caricatures.
Contrasting American ideals of heroism with those of the heroes of ancient Greece, Burns remarked that the Greeks “saw heroes as having very obvious strength but also very obvious and sometimes equal weaknesses.”
“Achilles had his heel,” Burns said. “And so I think for us, it’s always been what kind of American history do you show? One that’s sort of treacly and superficial or one that gets deeper?”
Defining a common legacy between the three figures is tricky since their lives span from 1858 to 1962. The political populism of Theodore Roosevelt — for example, his anti-monopoly stances and efforts to improve food safety and regulation — arguably found a new expression in the New Deal politics championed by Franklin Roosevelt to alleviate the suffering inflicted by the Great Depression.
The film follows Eleanor Roosevelt as she emerged from her role as first lady after Roosevelt’s death and successfully worked to adopt a United Nations declaration of human rights. She was the niece of Theodore Roosevelt and a distant relation to Franklin Roosevelt.
All three Roosevelts backed an expanded role for the central government, an unresolved issue in American politics. Congressional Republicans recently shut down much of the U.S. government in a failed attempt to derail big changes to the health insurance market made by a Democratic president.
“We have a federal government that is big because of Franklin Roosevelt,” Burns said in an interview. “And lots of people think that’s a good thing. And a lot of people think that’s a bad thing. And a lot of people, most people, don’t understand it.”
The film shows flaws. Theodore Roosevelt encouraged a rebellion in Panama so the United States could secure the land needed for the Panama Canal. It discusses Franklin Roosevelt’s infidelity and the emotional abuse inflicted by Eleanor Roosevelt’s mother and an absent, alcoholic father.
Evidence of the history depicted in the film can be found on the surrounding campus. Roosevelt’s residence still has the bed where he died and a door has scratch marks believed to be from his dog. Burns saw the fast-driving 1938 Ford that allowed Roosevelt to escape his watchful bodyguards.
“He would ride along the countryside, toot his horn, say, ‘I want to talk to you,'” said Marion Dunn, 90, who met Roosevelt while working at the rehabilitation center. “He was a real people person – he didn’t talk up or down to anyone.”
Tweed Roosevelt, the great-grandson of Theodore Roosevelt, said he was supportive of Burns’ work but could not judge the documentary since he had not seen all of it. While the Roosevelts have been extensively chronicled, it’s uncommon to consider the joint legacy of all three in a single work.
“The attitudes of Franklin and Eleanor (weren’t) all that different from T.R.’s view about the ‘common man’ and the difficult situations they face,” Tweed Roosevelt said. “Today that’s certainly in my opinion a very important issue, but it seems to be somewhat ignored. Here we are in an era of increasing distance between the rich and the poor getting very much back to how it was in T.R.’s time.”
Director Sebastian Brune Joins Storyform For His 1st U.S. Commercial Representation
Production and development company Storyform has added filmmaker Sebastian Brune to its roster for his first U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content.
The Berlin-based photographer and director started his career as an art director for the German basketball brand KIX, creative director for DEF, and creative producer for car-sharing company ShareNow. He later became a freelancer, working with brands like Volkswagen and Nike. His ability to shoot street culture led him to work with Adidas, Puma, and Cupra. Brune’s talents as a photographer and filmmaker quickly made him a highly sought-after commercial collaborator, directing spots for brands including New Balance, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Prada, Red Bull, Harper’s Bazaar, and Under Armour, among many others. His short documentaries “Ocean Front Walk” and “Way Out” artfully depict streetball and skateboarding culture in Los Angeles and have been screened at museums worldwide.
Brune’s immersive storytelling sensibilities are drawn from the creativity and authenticity of urban culture. Influenced by rap music, graffiti, basketball, and the bold visuals of ‘90s commercials and films, Brune adds an elevated cinematic vocabulary to his daring and naturalistic visuals, capturing the rougher edges of reality. Brune sees films as critical to inspiring new perspectives and processing new, deeper ideas.
“Beyond Storyform’s proven success as a leading production company, what truly resonates with me is their creative vision and approach to storytelling,” said Brune. “From my first conversation, I felt understood and supported on a level beyond business. It was about shared passion and perspective. Their wealth of experience, remarkable talent, and invaluable guidance... Read More