ReThinking: Ken Burns on love and grief (Part 2)

The conversation explores themes of grief, loss, and optimism with filmmaker Ken Burns. Burns reflects on how the early loss of his mother profoundly shaped his life and work, fueling his storytelling. He shares insights on the endless half-life of grief, the importance of remaining optimistic despite cynicism, and transforming loss into a source of creativity. Burns also discusses his approach to filmmaking, emphasizing the need to step back and allow diverse perspectives to emerge rather than imposing a single lens. He touches on upcoming projects, including films about LBJ, Reconstruction, Barack Obama, and the CIA.