This is a fascinating documentary of sorts, showing the darker side of life in a small Wisconsin town in the 19th century. I called it "documentary of sorts", because its aim is not to give an accurate reflection of how life (and death) was like back then - it does not take a neutral stance. If it has a (political) aim then it is to disillusion, to expose people rambling about the good old days to something distinctively less romantic and depressing. But it probably has no political aim, if we look closely. It is deliberately morbid and revels in a kind of story-telling we normally only encounter in the context of war documentaries, and which takes us by surprise. On this level it is truly gripping and fascinating.
As a criticism, I would say that the film is perhaps a little too pleased with the misfortunes it reports about. Despite telling many individual stories the film always keeps a secure emotional distance from its characters. Ill fate awaits them in the same way it awaits wildebeests in wildlife documentaries.
As a criticism, I would say that the film is perhaps a little too pleased with the misfortunes it reports about. Despite telling many individual stories the film always keeps a secure emotional distance from its characters. Ill fate awaits them in the same way it awaits wildebeests in wildlife documentaries.