Roots (25th Anniversary Edition) [DVD] [1977]

Good quality, good value for money, emotional movie but good watch

This is a fabulous series showing the hardships faced by the Africans who were captured and transported to America as slaves. This series was written by Alex Haley who lived in America and traced his ancestry back to The Gambia, West Africa. He was so moved by what he discovered that he decided to put some of the ordeals faced by his family into words, thus becoming the best selling novel and later the television series Roots. Anyone watching this series will be touched by the hardships forced upon the people of Africa due the white peoples hunger for wealth and material possessions. A good watch, you won't want to switch the TV off until you have completed the whole box set of DVD's.

DVD was a much wanted series that I have not seen since it was originally televised. It was good to watch again. A bit antiquated, but still enjoyable.

If you love this film; you will also like 'They don't want us here' by Kevin Watson. It is based on a true story set in England where the author has gone through his own middle passage. It makes painful reading while reminding us that little has changed where racism is concerned! You owe it to yourself to get this book if you enjoyed . The scenario: The writer has kept diaries on his experiences while living under Bromford Housing Association. What could only be described as a slow psychological hanging where each day he was subjected to harassment, which finally led to arson attempt on his life and property by his white neighbours. The racism he experienced became tucked under carpet by Bromford Housing Association Eventually after years of hell and endurance; he was only free from this nightmare hell because his neighbour was put into prison for nearly four years after trying to set fire to his flat. Kevin contacted the black 'Voice' newspaper who ran an article. now Bromford Housing Association had nothing to lose! how dare he contact the voice newspaper exposing this racist institution? Kevin Watson thought his nightmare was over; but it was only just beginning! Bromford had moved racist neighbours who would continue this reign of terror; but only this time; slowly torturing Kevin to the point of hopelessness, and thoughts of suicide! In the end what could only be described as provocative and racially motivated; Bromford created situations where they conspired with Kevin’s racist neighbours in which to drive him finally out of his home! In the end Kevin sandwiched between Bromford refusal to deal with the racist abuse, and threats from his white neighbours; while denial from the Staffordshire police trying to deal with the case; Kevin would end up running from his home for his dear life away from his neighbours who were using killer dogs as weapons! His mental health rapidly declined as a result of institutional racism and its’ failure in which to want to tackled it. Once Kevin left his home he thought that the curse of Bromford was left behind not realising that Bromford wanted to destroy him even if it meant lying or even breaking the law! They wanted him silenced, and would stoop to any level to see that even if it meant lying and fabrication and even falsifying police records!

This DVD set is based on a book called Roots that was written by Alex Haley. He remembered his grandma telling him stories about the line of his family right back in time to Kunta Kinte who was born in Gambia in Africa. From there Kunta was caught by slave-traders and taken to America and sold into slavery. However he was determined to reclaim his freedom. He made sure his daughter Kizzy also felt this way and told her about the time before he was in slavery and so the story passed from Kizzy to her son Chicken George and from him to his son Tom and so on. The DVD box-set includes 9 hours of film with each episode being one and a half hours long. However there are enough scene-breaks for you to stop the DVDs at any time and come back to it at a later stage. The story is a fantastic story following the generations of the family line from the birth of Kunta Kinte through to the author of the book, now deceased, Alex Haley. Along the way you will see just how much hardship black slaves had to suffer in America over this period. Eventually the family does reach freedom and this is a great moment when you remember how much effort they have gone to over the time. This is the 25th anniversary boxset but the pictures don't look to have aged at all and the story will stand-up for many generations into the future. The extras include a family tree, a 20 minute documentary by the people involved 25 years on discussing their roles in Roots and the impact it made, and also full commentary by the same people. All in all a great boxset with hours of viewing at a bargain price.

I remember watching this story unfold when I was younger and being fascinated . A strong cast, Asher, Amos, Burton. Starts with a very fanciful story in Africa, but a bleak and realistic portrayal of the slave trade. From then on it becomes very much 1970’s little house on the prairie with a plot that line that feels contrived. Sadly I think the story that Haley uncovered was far more brutal than could be portrayed on 1970’s TV. Not quite the watch I remembered from all those years ago

This incredible, sweeping, historic story needs no introduction. It is powerful enough to make anyone take stock and examine their own values and realise that all of us have the same hopes, ambitions, loves, tragedies and the right to freedom - regardless of race or colour. The DVD version is superb. A stunning re-mastered digital transfer with a colourful, vibrant high definition picture with a visual quality equal to film. Whilst the sound track is mono, it is crisp and resounding and excellently reproduced. In fact this is one of a very few DVDs to be reinforced by a mono track which adds to the stark brutality of the depiction of yet another chapter of man`s intolerance to his fellow men. Maybe if Roots was part of the educational curriculum it would help eliminate the ignorance that has prevailed for over 200 years. Roots on DVD is an experience you will not forget. Watch it and be enthralled as you travel a whirlwind of emotional true drama through the generations from young Kunta Kinte to Chicken George. Robert Graham (UK)

I saw the original series when it first aired. Some scenes are chopped or deleted but just fluff. Still a good show to watch and enjoy.

Super Serie aus den 1970ern.

40年前リアルタイムで観てずっともう一度観たいと思ってました。 感動巨編、お奨めします❕

Super série de mon enfance,dès le générique les larmes me viennent.Qu'elle épopée sur plusieurs génération,on s'attache aux personnages joués par d'excellent acteurs.Il est interréssant de voir la deuxième partie quand Alex H.revient sur le sol afruicain retrouvéun descendant de Kunta Kinté.Les émotions sont tès fortes.Une belle leçon d'humanité,la cruautée des hommes....Une série à voir et à revoir sans modération.