Filmmaker Ken Burns, whose career has shaped generations of public television viewers, spoke about his decades-long work, his philosophy on history, and the emotional connections his films inspire, during an April 4 interview with the BBC.

In a conversation that covered many topics, the famed documentarian emphasized the power of long-form storytelling and warned against the dangers of simplistic narratives in modern culture.

Burns, whose name is synonymous with historical documentaries in the United States, is currently working on a major film project for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. He told the BBC that the success he experienced early in life was unexpected.

“I thought that becoming a documentary filmmaker in American history was like taking an immediate vow of a

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