TV
Appalachia: A History of Mountains and People

PBS presents, "Appalachia: A History of Mountains and People," a television series exploring the cultural and environmental significance of this region of the United States. Funded in part by the National Science Foundation, this is the first environmental history television series ever made about any region in the U.S.

The four-part series, narrated by Academy Award Winner Sissy Spacek, premieres Thursday, April 9, 2009, on PBS stations. An all-star cast, including Pulitzer Prize-winning biologist E.O. Wilson and best-selling novelist Barbara Kingsolver, explores the intersection of natural history and human history in one of America's most beautiful regions.

The film series begins with the formation and geologic history of Earth's oldest mountains, the Appalachias, and takes you on a journey throughout the human history of the region including the settling of the first human inhabitants, conflicts and battles over land rights and into today's economically depressed time.

The release schedule for the series is as follows:

• Part One: Time and Terrain – April 9
• Part Two: New Green World – April 16
• Part Three: Mountains Revolutions – April 23
• Part Four: Power and Place – April 30

Check local PBS station listings for air times.

For more information about the film series and to view trailers, visit the film's Web site at http://www.appalachiafilm.org.

Credit: James Agee Film Project