Image Unavailable
Color:
-
-
-
- Sorry, this item is not available in
- Image not available
- To view this video download Flash Player
American Experience - A Midwife's Tale
Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select the return method
- Ship it!
Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select the return method
- Ship it!
Purchase options and add-ons
Frequently bought together
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
- A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812PaperbackFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 26
- The Frozen River: A NovelHardcoverFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 26
- Code Name Hélène: A NovelPaperbackFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 26
- I Was AnastasiaPaperbackFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 26
- When We Had WingsHardcoverFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 26
Product Description
Based on her personal diary, this program presents a dramatic exploration of the life of Martha Ballard, a woman who lived through the economic boom and bust, and political and social turmoil of the decades following the American Revolution. The video is approximately three minutes longer than the broadcast version.
Product details
- Aspect Ratio : 1.33:1
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- MPAA rating : Unrated (Not Rated)
- Product Dimensions : 7.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches; 3.2 ounces
- Item model number : 5821909
- Media Format : Color, NTSC, Multiple Formats, Closed-captioned
- Run time : 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Release date : June 13, 2006
- Studio : PBS
- ASIN : B000FGG66G
- Country of Origin : USA
- Number of discs : 1
- Best Sellers Rank: #23,876 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
- #453 in Documentary (Movies & TV)
- #546 in Special Interests (Movies & TV)
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon-
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
But "A Midwife's Tale" is a true exception, for it is an exceptional movie. Or should I say it's an exceptional documentary? Hmmm...okay---docu-drama...
Well, whatever you want to call it, it plays so much like a movie that - I swear! - I can't tell the difference.
And this film is very historically accurate and absolutely can educate...
The story of A Midwife's Tale - the true story - is a wonderful primary source for historians, for the daily diary of Martha Ballard (1735 to 1812) was put into book-form as a sort of dissertation/novel by author Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. The book is a model of social history at its best. Giving portions of Ballard's diary, it recounts the life and times of this obscure Maine housewife and midwife. Using passages from the diary as a starting point for each chapter division, Ulrich, a professor at the University of New Hampshire, demonstrates how the seemingly trivial details of Ballard's daily life reflect and relate to prominent themes in the history of the early republic: the role of women in the economic life of the community, the nature of marriage and sexual relations, the scope of medical knowledge and practice.
Shortly after A Midwife's Tale was published, Laurie Kahn-Leavitt, a film producer, read a review of the book, bought a copy, loved it, and worked to secure the film rights.
From the very beginning, Lahn-Leavitt had the idea of interweaving the story of Martha Ballard's life with author Laurel Ulrich's process of piecing it together. She had planned right from the start to have it begin as a documentary and evolve into a historically accurate drama.
And she succeeded.
With all my years of studying the period, I have never seen any film get it right quite like A Midwife's Tale does: in speech & language, clothing, morals & values of the time, and, well, in FEEL. The only other movies I've seen come even close to historic accuracy in sight and sound in this manner have been the “John Adams” HBO mini-series and “Lincoln” starring Daniel Day-Lewis from a few years ago.
Since my first viewing, A Midwife's Tale has haunted me. No, not in a scary way, but, rather, in such a manner that wills me to now look at historic 18th century houses with more discerning eyes and a more intimate mindset. I will see beyond the walls and presenters to feel the ghosts of those who lived within the walls during the time of the good old colony days.
Ahhh...if only walls could talk indeed!
And yet, they do.
Is A Midwife's Tale a happy and upbeat film?
No.
Oh, there are happy times, but the movie is rather dark and daring.
Real.
From the social historian to the casual history buff, from the living historian & reenactor to the historical presenter - all who want to see real history come to life on their television screens should make watching A Midwife's Tale a priority.
Don't you just love watching history when they finally get it right?
(for a more detailed look at the making of this film, please visit my blog by googling "Passion for the Past blog."
VERY meh