HENRY DAVID THOREAU, a new, three-part, three-hour film examines the life and work of Concord’s 19th-century writer in the context of antebellum New England and the larger United States, as well as through the universal themes he focused on in his writings: an individual’s relationship to the state, how to live an authentic life, our connection to nature, and the impact of race on American life. Ultimately, HENRY DAVID THOREAU presents a portrait of a man both rooted in his time and speaking far beyond it. By placing his life and writings within the great moral struggles of the 19th century, the film underscores why Thoreau endures as a guide to the tensions and possibilities of American democracy—offering wisdom and provocation as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.
As part of the exhibition, Every Path Laid Open: Women of Concord and the Quest for Equality, the Concord Museum is hosting a film series called Summer Under the Stars, a celebration of movies made by and about women. The films will address historical and contemporary issues of women’s rights, reform, and activism, celebrating female heroes - the fictional, historical, and super. The series kicks off on Thursday, June 10 at 8:15 p.m. with the 2019 film adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved novel, Little Women. On the eve of Juneteenth, to celebrate and continue the conversation raised by Harriet Tubman’s heroic efforts to free enslaved people through the underground railroad, the Museum will host Harriet (Thursday, June 17 at 8:15 p.m.). Two additional films will be scheduled for later in the summer.
