Review: Roots
Posted by Anura Samara, 16 August 2016
Whenever I see a new version of something, I always wonder if it’s going to bring anything different. And, if not, then why do it?
The original TV series of Roots sits at the edge of my early memories. I must have been about 11 at the time, I know it was a program we watched each week but as often with these things my real knowledge is more about it’s place in culture rather than memories of the program. So I know it was an important program in showing the experience of slavery from the perspective of the slaves, and in understanding why slavery has such a lasting impact to this day.
This new version was screened on SBS.
Overall, it captures quite well the story of slavery at an individual level, from the young man taken from Africa through the lives of his descendants to their eventual (and apparent) emancipation after the Civil War. It’s too easy to focus on the savagery imposed as punishment on the slaves and harder to see the more subtle forms of control used to dominate their lives. But in the end, this is where the real story is – it’s not about being forced to work for the economic gain of the masters, it’s not about total domination of another human being regarded merely as property but about how the slaves are gradually allowed to get close to power and knowledge but never fully participate. And for those who get close to the inner sanctum of white power, the risks are potentially
My memory of the original is pretty dim, but you have to assume that this new version benefits from advances in production techniques from the special effects alone (there’s a fair bit of blood spilled).
In fact, that is my objection to the show. It’s too neat and tidy, too clean. The supposedly visceral bits still feel neat and tidy. The inclusion of a “good” white person also interrupts the story and feels like a sop to the audience. And the ending left us without a solid conclusion – after decades of abuse, the killing of the worst white person feels like a victory when the reality is that African Americans would still go on to face continuing discrimination and violence.
In the end, I left feeling the same way about lots of remakes (movies, music, TV shows). There’s nothing particularly new here, so why the need for a remake?
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