Living With Lincoln (HBO)

About Living With Lincoln (HBO)

Released in 2015 by HBO, 'Living With Lincoln' is a documentary that chronicles the obsession of five generations of the Kunhardt family with the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. Using a combination of intimate interviews, rare archival footage and photographs from the family's private collection, the film explores the emotional and psychological toll that the long-standing project had on the Kunhardt family.

Making / Production

The film is directed and produced by Peter Kunhardt, along with Teddy Kunhardt and George Kunhardt. It is a family production, made with access to a unique archive of photos and documents owned by the Kunhardt family. The documentary took several years to make, delving deep into the family history and their connection to Abraham Lincoln.

Actors

• Peter Kunhardt as himself - The director, Peter Kunhardt, also serves as a narrator, recounting the family history and personal relationship with Lincoln's image. He delivers a remarkable honest performance.
• Doris Kearns Goodwin as herself - A Pulitzer Prize-winning American biographer and historian who offers insights on Lincoln, her presence brings an expert perspective.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This documentary marks a five generations long endeavor by the Kunhardt family to preserve the photographic history of Abraham Lincoln.
• Peter W. Kunhardt, the grandfather of the director, started his collection with just 100 images of Lincoln, which grew into thousands.
• Includes rare interviews with past family generations recounting their dedication to Lincoln's legacy.

Awards

‘Living With Lincoln’ hasn't received any specific awards. However, it has received appreciation for its unique historical perspective and the personal narrative style of storytelling.

Quotes

• "The more I became involved with these photographs, the more real he became." - Peter Kunhardt
• "If you look long enough at these photographs, you’re going to start to see things." - Doris Kearns Goodwin

Music, Soundtrack

The movie uses subtlety in its score, favoring the spoken word and the silence of deep reflection. Specific songs or compositions aren't highlighted, but the quiet background music adds to the overall emotive environment of the documentary.