The last directorial work by the great anthropological documentarian, Robert J. Flaherty, tells us about a boy's interactions with the natural world, accompanied only by his pet raccoon and a fine score by Virgil Thomson. As to be expected, the editing and photography are pleasing, until interruption by the cacophonous intrusion of the modern world in the form of oil drillers and their derrick. In a story co-written with his wife, Frances, there is virtually no dialogue and the amateur actors grin unremittingly, either by choice or by instruction. This film is not on a level with his best work, "Nanook of the North" (1922) or "Man of Aran" (1934), but the music helps considerably.
Review of Louisiana Story
