This month marks the anniversary of the Battle of Concord and Lexington, the opening shot of the Revolutionary War. If you’re in the Boston area, you might have a chance to drop in on a re-enactment of the event—one which goes far beyond a live tourist attraction.
Patriots Day, a recent American Experience documentary on PBS (DISH Network 249, various times) explores the day jobs and weekend tri-corner hat wearing participants who make historical re-enactment a way of life. While at first the program has its fun showing its subjects wearing both a British officer’s red coat as well as the seatbelt of a Honda Civic, the documentary settles into the drama of the day the closer it gets to the battle itself.
Because these people are serious. One man shaved a mustache which had been his companion for twenty years for the sake of historical accuracy; another was willing to take on a slave’s role to take part. And these people don’t just show up to create a few drum lines, fire off a blank or two, and go home; this is a year-old commitment which requires uniform building, monthly drills, and long hours of travel. Reenactment of the event itself starts at dawn with a Paul Revere-playing participant on horseback, alerting the countryside as minivans splash through traffic signals in the background. Viewers are shown the events of the entire day; the battle is merely the climax.
However, just like watching the re-enactment itself, just as the documentary really starts to suck in the viewer, the twenty-first century intrudes. As British and patriots alike fall to the ground, the SUV gliding past on the street beyond undermines the moment. It’s well worth a watch, however, if only to see what it takes for an American dentist to become one of King George’s finest.
