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   Ken Burns' new documentary series “The War” will premiere on the Arkansas Educational Television Network Sunday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.

   “The War,” directed and produced by Burns and Lynn Novick, explores
the history and horror of the Second World War from an American perspective by following the fortunes of so-called ordinary men and women who get caught up in the greatest cataclysm in human history.

   Six years in the making, this 14-hour epic film, reminiscent in scope and
power of Burns’s landmark series “The Civil War,” focuses on the stories
of citizens from four geographically distributed American towns —
Waterbury, Conn.; Mobile, Ala.; Sacramento, Calif.; and the tiny farming town of Luverne, Minn. These four communities stand in for and could represent any town in the United States that experienced the war’s four devastating years.

   Individuals from each community take the viewer through their own personal journeys into war, painting vivid portraits of how the war dramatically altered their lives and those of their neighbors, as well as the country they helped to save for generations to come.  

   “The Second World War was so massive, catastrophic and complex, it is almost beyond the mind’s and the heart’s capacity to process everything that happened and, more important, what it meant on a human level,” Burns said.

   By focusing on the personal stories of ordinary Americans who had extraordinary experiences, the film tries to bring one of the biggest events in the history of the world down to a very intimate scale. In the end, it becomes obvious that there are no “ordinary lives.”   In addition to Keith David’s narration, “The War” features first-person voices read by some of America’s greatest actors.

   Tom Hanks reads the voice of Al McIntosh, editor of the Rock County Star-Herald in Luverne whose weekly columns poignantly tried to explain the unexplainable to his neighbors. Other voices include Josh Lucas, Bobby Cannavale, Samuel L. Jackson, Eli Wallach, Robert Wahlberg, Carolyn McCormack, Adam Arkin and Kevin Conway.

   “It’s critical that we capture the stories of the generation that fought and lived through World War II before they are lost to us forever,” John F. Wilson, PBS Senior Vice President and Chief T.V. Programming Executive said. “PBS’ goal for ‘The War’ is to reach into every home and classroom so together we can better understand what we as a nation experienced in
those difficult years and what we as a nation accomplished.”

   “The War” will air in seven parts:

• Sunday, Sept. 23 - “A Necessary War,” December 1941-December 1942

• Monday, Sept. 24 - “When Things Get Tough,” January 1943-December 1943

• Tuesday, Sept. 25 - “A Deadly Calling,” November 1943-June 1944

• Wednesday, Sept. 26 - “Pride of Our Nation,” June 1944-August 1944

• Sunday, Sept. 30 - “FUBAR,” September 1944-December 1944

• Monday, Oct. 1 - “The Ghost Front,” December 1944-March 1945

• Tuesday, Oct. 2 - “A World Without War,” March 1945-December 1945

   Episodes will air twice, beginning at 7 p.m.

   Burns will introduce a book written by Geoffrey C. Ward that Alfred A. Knopf will publish, which will accompany the show. PBS Home Video is producing a complete DVD box set that will feature “making of” footage and an interview with Burns and others involved in the film. Sony BMG Legacy Recordings will release the soundtrack in September.

   As with all of Burns’ films, there is an extensive educational outreach component and an interactive Web page (www.pbs.org/thewar) that provides more information on the film, the battles and related issues.

   AETN will air several new specials produced to accompany “The War” prior to the first episode. Beginning at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 23, viewers may tune in for “Barnes and … A Conversation with Theodore ‘Dutch’ Van Kirk,” followed by “Behind Their Words: A Look at AETN’s WWII Oral History Project” at 4 p.m.; the 90-minute documentary “Their Journey: A Veterans’ Tribute Tour” at 5 p.m.; and “Countdown to The War” at 6:30 p.m.

   For a complete list of related programming and events, visit www.aetn.org/thewar.
  
   “The War” is a production of Florentine Films and WETA Washington, D.C. Corporate funding is provided by General Motors, Anheuser-Busch and Bank of America. Major funding is provided by Lilly Endowment, Inc.; Public Television Viewers and PBS; National Endowment for the Humanities; Corporation for Public Broadcasting; and The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations. Additional funding is provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts; The Longaberger Foundation; and Park Foundation, Inc.

   The Arkansas Educational Television Network www.aetn.org provides lifelong learning opportunities, improves and enhances Arkansans’ lives and celebrates the unique culture of Arkansas through its programming and services. AETN’s analog and digital transmitters and numerous cable system connections give it statewide reach.




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