The American Buffalo

For those with a taste for Burns’ stately brand of storytelling, “The American Buffalo” is another demonstration of what he can do when allowed to freely roam the plains of US history – representing a form of documentary programming with a capital D that at times feels like its own kind of endangered species.

Much of it is heart-stoppingly beautiful. Who knew that Ken Burns — documentarian, entrepreneur, the closest thing we have to an unofficial curator of national memory — has a David Attenborough, wildlife-filmmaker side, too? That heart-stopping beauty makes the story Burns tells all more heartbreaking.

Hard to watch, brilliantly told.

Owing to length and familiarity, The American Buffalo comes across as lesser Ken Burns, especially following the scathing Holocaust documentary. I think that assessment is limiting. The craftsmanship of the second part is top-notch and the takeaways regarding how frequently American pride has gone hand-in-hand with destroying aspects of America that we try to marginalize or deem not-quite-American are always vital.

The visual record, in paintings, artifacts and photographs, is impressive. The larger story is told through individual ones, which have a tendency to intertwine in dramatically satisfying ways.

Though quite lengthy, with sections that feel repetitive, Burns manages to offer an essential work so needed during a time when history is being erased.