With all of this cold weather, many of us are probably looking for fun things to do indoors. If you are interested in genealogy, you may love to read genealogy themed books or books that can help you with your research. Once in a while, though, you may find that it is nice to treat yourself to watching a movie with a family history theme.
If you have not seen it already (or if you want to see it again), Roots by Alex Haley is a classic family history movie. I read the book and watched the video of the miniseries in high school, and while I vaguely remember Kunta Kinte and his family’s journey, I think it may be time to watch it again. Of course, it will take you a while as there are eight parts to the miniseries, but it is well worth finding the time from what I can remember.
Gettysburg is a great choice for anyone whose ancestors lived through the Civil War. It delves into the feelings and motivations of the Americans who were fighting each other during that time. Since the Civil War affected so many American families in one way or another, you are likely to either find it relevant to your own family history, a good way to learn about the Civil War, or both.
For a more biological perspective, National Geographic has a film called “The Human Family Tree”. It looks at the human journey through time, from the beginning of our existence. This movie is a great way to place your family history into the larger picture of the family of humankind, and to remind yourself of the interconnectedness of the entire human family.
There are many other movies out there with a family history theme, and all of them are a great way to relax indoors while it is cold outside. Some of them may even be a good way to get the whole family together to learn a little about genealogy while spending some quality time together.
Photo by mconnors on morguefile.com.