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This comment area is closed to new submissions. Visit ITVS.org to continue the conversation about this film.
3/22/04
Aaron Joy
Nishinomiya City, Japan
Reading the reviews and critiques I see some complaints/criticisms, but my view is that for such a small community that is pretty isolated to attempt something like the play and then the music and have them become a success.....well, that's a proud moment and I have no desire to waste anyone's time by looking for holes. My family (the Beverage/Joy clan) spent 10 generations on North Haven (I'm a pre-school teacher in Japan), since day one, and though I wasn't born there (my dad Jimmy Joy was though) I consider North Haven my ancestral home and am really proud to see the success they've gained through some pretty tough endeavors.
2/24/03
Judith Challoner-Wood
Gustavus at Glacier Bay Alaska
Wow! Really enjoyed the film Gustavus could be your sister village same demographics similar weather, we wave too and our kids don't have the 3 M's either! We are 20-30 minutes by air from Juneau are a seasonal town. Our fishing is declining also...we don't have lobsters; Dungeness crab was our big fishing focus until recently. We are using arts and music to enrich our community too and this story providers a wonderful model. I think our teens would benefit from knowing about your teens. Would Wulp be interested in visiting Glacier Bay?
2/20/03
Dave Macy
North Haven, ME
As the minister in town for over 12 years, married for 26 years to a native islander, and as a member of the Islands cast, I would like to respond to the comment above re the film's portrayal of homophobia as contributing to the community's struggles. For all that I liked about the film, I would say that it greatly overstated the role of homophobia in the conflict. We are, as another writer noted above, a microscosm. There is neither any less nor any more homophobia here than in other places I've lived. It may be that in a small community differences of any kind are more visible and thereby appear to loom larger, but the situation as I lived it can't be limited to just one thing or another. To its credit, the film to a great degree did try to see things from different perspectives. Still, I believe that too often we as individuals and as a nation want to find the easy answers when more often than not, complexity rules. Seeing the situation on this island within the much larger picture
2/20/03
Linda Burnham
Saxapahaw, NC
I so appreciated this film. Our nonprofit organization, Art in the Public Interest, has a large Web project called the Community Arts Network (www.communityarts.net), where we collect information about such work. I will be so happy to let our users know about this gorgeous project and the outstanding documentary. Please, Independent Lens, more programs about arts projects like this. Visit our Web site for ideas and networking.
2/20/03
I enjoyed the program, but felt that much was left out. The natural antagonism that occurs when newcomers move into a community and try to enlarge horizons or "uplift" the natives was not played up. It would help all people who are moving into new communities, perhaps, to hear more of the "other side" although those people are perhaps more taciturn. Struggling to make a living on the water, watching young people leave for a more lucrative way of life, may contribute to a bitterness we don't understand.
2/20/03
Estelle Haferling
New York, New York
Thank you for a program that had me smiling from the start to finish. The power of feelingful constructive expression can overcome rage and hate. But as the film makes clear, it all takes work including not capitulating to the negative. I am glad that the program included the reality of the frightened and small minded; after all we do not live in paradise. In the end, it was the talent and joy of the children and the adults working together that was exhilarating and showed what can be done. All this from a tiny island (with some help from the folks across the water.
Is there any way to see the whole show or at least hear it all? In the stunned days after 9/11, I remember reading about the play, but couldn't muster the resources to attempt to get a ticket. (New Yorker that I am, I would like to think that I could've gotten one ticket at the theater!) I'm gonna go hear Cindy in NYC! Estelle Haferling
2/20/03
Mike Burke
New York, New york
I saw the show on the island. It was good. And have been attending and enjoying shows at the high school for several years. I had a good time and I missed seeing the pbs special; please show it again with some advance notice
2/19/03
Thomas McBride
Amherst, MA
What you and your viewers don't understandis that North Haven is south is "the Volvo line" in Maine. Property has much much higher value in southern Maine and therefore it took only a slight push to help North Haven. The island is very close to one of the most exclusive areas in Maine, Camden, a town that home to MBNA credit. What viewers in MA and CT don't understand is that a picturesque town town like North Haven will have the socioeconomic structure of Martha's Vineyard in just a few short years. Yes, I'm happy for North Haven but why don't you do a story of real significence, one that tells of northerrn Maine where many homes don't have indoor plumbing, in a state that is one of the poorest in the nation. Those of us in southern New England shouldn't be led that you have told us a story of some miraculous and enlightened social change. Tom McBride
2/19/03
Joan Redd
Cincinnati, OH
This show was a real heartwarmer and a complete joy! I'd love to be able to buy a soundtrack of the performance! Thank you, North Haven, for coming together and working so hard to produce such a delight. If the arts can't bring us together, one has to ask, what can?
2/19/03
Jos� Angel Santana
West New York, NJ
After many years of working with Drama to teach young people effective ways to resolve conflicts at home, school, and with their peers, it's great to see this film which confirms my intuitions of many years ago, when I began this work.
Thank you Mr. Wolp, and thank you filmmakers.
Jos� Angel Santana
http://e-motionpictures.com/
2/19/03
Victoria Schlesinger
San Francisco, CA
On This Island, your program Tuesday night, was exceptional. After having marched in the anti-war rally on Sunday, the film epitomizes, and was a microcosim, for how we should be healing rifts. Make art, not war.
2/19/03
Ricki Garfield
New York, NY
"ON THIS ISLAND"...What an uplifting joy it was to live with the people of North Haven Island. Thank you PBS for opening your doors to John Wulp,et al, and allowing me to share in the experience through your network of wonders.
2/19/03
I frequently see independent films, documentary and otherwise, so I have a frame of reference against which to measure this film.
On This Island was utterly gripping from start to finish. I hope the filmmaker will see that comment.
2/19/03
Jonelle Pagan
Brooklyn, New York
This was a wonderful production that showed life in all it's possibilities and short-comings.
The reason I think that art can heal is because art reaches places inaccessible to anything but the spirit.
I imagine that living on such a small island is like living in a tribe, where everyone knew that everyone would help each other. But, I can't help thinking how limiting it must be to the young, who know that there is a bigger world "out there".
I think you can find art in the everyday by focusing on, and enhancing meaningfullness.
2/19/03
New York, NY
Though I now live in New York City (on the island of Manhattan) I grew up in a small town in Nebraska, a place where you always waved as you passed others on the street. I left there over ten years ago, but it wasn't until watching "On This Island" this evening, that I was able to appreciate that seemingly simple act. In fact, as a New Yorker I had completely forgotten that there are places where people aknowledged each person they encountered. I was left with a tear in my eye and a longing in my heart for the kind of community that these very special people have on their island.
2/19/03
art
clarks., tn
I wonder if the homophobia theme is understated in the film. If division on the island was caused by a hatred of gay people, the community reaped as it sowed; they were indeed blessed to have an artist to bring healing to their hatred.
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