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List Price: $19.98 | | Label: HBO Home Video
Salesrank: 22563
Released: February 11, 2003 |
| Our Price: $12.85 |
| Used Price: $9.95 |
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MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
When the Civil War ended in 1865, more than four million slaves were set free. Over 70 years later, the memories of some 2,000 slave-era survivors were transcribed and preserved by the Library of Congress. These first-person anecdotes, ranging from the brutal to the bittersweet, have been brought to vivid life in this unique HBO documentary special, featuring the on-camera voices of over a dozen top African-American actors.
Description of Unchained Memories:
The material used for this beautifully made HBO documentary dates back to the 1930s, when journalists conducted thousands of interviews with former slaves who'd been emancipated at the end of the Civil War. A selection of these faithfully transcribed "slave narratives" are vividly read (acted, really) here by a host of distinguished performers, ranging from Samuel L. Jackson to Oprah Winfrey, from Don Cheadle to Angela Bassett, with narration by Whoopi Goldberg. Since there's obviously no film available from the slave period, the producers use artfully edited photos, file footage, some atmospheric new film, and shots of the performers in action to bring the material to life. Add all of that to the DVD bonus features (text bios of individual slaves and a couple of lengthy audio segments), and you have a moving record of bitter, weary, yet resilient and quietly proud people living with memories that never would, or could, fade. --Sam Graham
Unchained Memories Reviews:
From the USA archives - Interviews of former Slaves before they died 
2009-10-23 - This is for anyone who wants to hear the real stories of people who were once slaves as recorded by the US Government, in the 1930s, before they died. This is fantastic production using current and famous Black actors and actresses of the big screen to read the narratives of the slaves, stored in the US archives, brings each documented recollection to life. The ex-slaves that were interviewed were all in the 80's and older.
No one can say that they have studied or are interested in the Slave Trade (the African Holocaust) and not have this in their DVD collection. Close your eyes and listen to each narrative, it will be the closest that you will ever become to how slaves had to live and their emotional struggles during slavery.
A look into my ancestor's world... 
2009-10-19 - Unchained Memories really provides a look into the personal thoughts, feelings and experiences of enslaved Africans and African Americans. It fills in the gaping holes left from the sketchy accounts in text books of the horrific institute of slavery in the U.S. The way the actors and actresses assume the roles of the people whose stories they are telling really adds to the genuineness of the portrayals. Even the reactions of some of the actors/actresses to the stories makes it all the more personal. I highly recommend this DVD. It brings to life just how slavery affected an entire race of people here in the United States...The Land of the "Free".
A heart tugging account of Slavery in America
2009-09-20 - I viewed this video several times on HBO. My sister who does not have cable, I purchased this for her and she as I was truly moved by the actual narrations of accounts given by the African-Americans who were enslaved.
a very informative dvd about the conditions and situations, that the slaves had to endure,
2009-06-29 - I actually got chills when I heard the voices of the former slaves
and those that lived during that time, being interviewed, telling of
their experiences. I have many books on Slave narritives. This dvd
is very interesting and is worth owning to share with others.
Mind-blowing revelation of US slavery by slaves themselves
2009-04-05 - Fabulous and spine-chilling documentary of the horrors of slavery in 19th century USA, told by the slaves themselves - written testimonies read by actors with vivid, graphic photos; should be compulsory viewing for all secondary schools in history classes. Only thing is, you can't actually view it as it is because it's linked to the regional US DVD system.
