Amazon.com
Santa Fe, New Mexico, one of the oldest cities in North America, is known for its charm, steeped in an Indian culture that dates back hundreds of years. That reverence is missing in this travelogue; in its place is a well-worn video magazine that serves up scenes of shopping for jewelry or eating at places such as Harry's Roadhouse as if that's all you'd find there. The beauty of Santa Fe's architecture doesn't come through, although the camera stops long enough to take in scenes from what is a truly stunning modern opera house. It's too touristy, except for when it stops to document a family's trip from Santa Fe to Taos, where their Native American perspective brings dignity to the trip, whether it's collecting sacred dirt believed to have healing power or visiting Indian pueblos. The outline of the allure of New Mexico is here, but it isn't successfully filled in.
--Valerie J. Nelson
