Coming to light

Coming to Light tells the story of self-educated pioneer and visionary artist Edward Sheriff Curtis who set out in 1900 to document traditional Indian life on the imminent brink of extinction. The film explores the often controversial nature of the romantic images of the Native Americans, and the meaning the pictures have for them today. The documentary shows the impressive journey of amateur ethnologist Curtis and visit the Hopi, Navajo, Piegan, Suquamish, Eskimo and Kwakiutl amongst others. While seeing their anscestors, the Native Americans describe ways in which they are using the photographs to revive their own traditions in the contemporary world.

About Edward S. Curtis

Edward Sheriff Curtis (1868-1952) was a driven, charismatic, obsessive artist, a pioneer photographer who set out in 1900 to document traditional Native American life. He rose from obscurity to become the most famous photographer of his time, created an enormous body of work; 10,000 recordings, 40,000 photographs, and a full length ethnographic motion picture. In the end he died poor and forgotten. His work was rediscovered in the 1970s and is now synonymous with photography of Native Americans.

Review

Alan Trachtenberg, Neil Gray Professor of English and American Studies, Yale University: Coming to light tells more than the story of its main subject, Edward Sheriff Curtis and the North American natives. It tells, too, of the tragedy of cultural loss and hopes for recovery of memory. The film honors the great achievements of Curtis by placing his pictures in a vibrant frame of sorrow, desire, and promise. In its sensitive and intelligent fusion of image, sound, and story, the film offers an extraordinary experience of living history. It cannot be praised enough.