6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
DEATH FLOCKS TO SHROPSHIRE, March 31, 1999
This review is from: Brother Cadfael: Raven in the Foregate [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Death builds a nest for itself in Shrewsbury when a new priest is sent to replace the old one, who for forty years tended his flock before passing on. Father Ailnoth, the Bishop of Winchester's choice for the parish, is aligned with King Stephen and his claim to England's throne. Those who do not support Stephen are traitors and, according to Ailnoth, deserve to die. Abbot Radulfus, who escorted Ailnoth from the legatine council, solemnly states that in a civil war, "All men are traitors to one cause or another."
Like the staff he carries, Ailnoth is unbending. At its top, a claw grasps a ball, symbolic of the priest's own talon-like grip over "his" lands. He quickly evicts the farmers who tend parish fields to feed their families. Ailnoth denounces all who come within the sound of his call. He does not pray for the souls of his parishoners but preys on their simple way of life.
Compassionate Brother Cadfael quickly involves himself in the peasants' plight and that of a young, beautiful girl named Eleanor. Unwed and with child, Eleanor's guilty conscience sends her fleeing to the monk to confess her sin so that she may receive absolution. Cadfael, like all monks, cannot hear the girl's confession, only priests can. Moreover, Cadfael is caught up in his own thoughts about Father Ailnoth, which are somewhat unChristianlike. Eleanor does not like Ailnoth, but she does as Cadfael bids and goes to the priest.
She then is found floating in the river. There is doubt about her death as there are a man's footprints on the riverbank and Eleanor's arms are bruised. Cadfael must solve the mystery. Eleanor's eternal soul is at stake. If a suicide, she will forever lie in unconsecrated ground. If murdered, who did it?
Ailnoth is found dead next, impailed on the mill's wheel. Most certainly he was murdered. Suspects are as copious as a flock of crows. One of the farmers? The father of Eleanor's unborn child perhaps; the girl feared the priest and his wrath so. Or the young man named William who accompanied Ailnoth to Shrewsbury.
New in the priest's service, Cadfael does not believe William is what he says he is nor does the monk think William is who he says he is. He does not bear the markings of a servant; his hands are too soft, his knowledge too broad. Cadfael is able to gather that William is of noble birth and one of Empress Maud's followers. He has come to Shrewsbury to enlist the aid of Lord Gifford. Gifford, William's father, and Gifford's brother were jailed by King Stephen. Only Gifford survived. Mary, Gifford's niece and now his ward, learns of her uncle's true allegiance. Birds of a feather, Gifford betrays William to Ailnoth, which is why William is a prime suspect. Mary and William have fallen in love; they flee to Wales once William's true identity is learned of by others besides Cadfael.
But how are Eleanor's and Ailnoth's deaths connected? Are they connected? Cadfael grasps at every straw in his quest to see that the girl's soul rests as peacefully as possible and that Father Ailnoth's murderer, no matter how bitter the truth might be, is exposed. Cadfael is, after all, a good man in an evil world.
This is a well-feathered nest of a cast. Sir Derek Jacobi facilely brings the complicated Cadfael to life. Peter Guinness (Father Ailnoth) is a good study for modern-day would-be Bible thumpers. Raad Rawi (Lord Casale) is as nefarious a creature as is humanly possible. Carine Sinclair (Eleanor) and Catherine Cusack (Catherine) play well as siblings at odds with one another. Sean Chapman (William) and Hermione Norris (Mary) make a perfect pair. Adam Bareham (Cynric), the parish verger, is quietly commanding in his role. Regular Cadfael castmates Eion McCarthy (Hugh Beringar), Terrence Hardiman (Abbot Radulfus), Michael Culver (Prior Robert), Julian Firth (Brother Jerome), and Mark Charnock (Brother Oswin) all turn in praiseworthy performances.
"The Raven in the Foregate," directed by Ken Grieve with screenplay by Simon Burke, is one of the Medieval monk's most convoluted mysterious adventures. Producer Stephen Smallwood is to be congratulated for maintaining the series' high quality.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I couldn't get enough of this one!, July 13, 2001
This review is from: Brother Cadfael: Raven in the Foregate [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Cadfael is one of my favorite shows to watch! Especially The Raven in the Forgate! Though I am only thirteen, I have watched the shows over and over again because I thought it wasn't gruesome. If you have never seen this movie and wish to purchase this item, well, I recomend it. Take it from a 13 year old. The Cadfael series have made me want to see an read more mysteries and before, I never even wanted to look at a mystery. I thought I would hate Cadfael, but now I can't turn it off!
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5.0 out of 5 stars
"Truth and justice are often at odds.", August 21, 2009
This review is from: Brother Cadfael: Raven in the Foregate [VHS] (VHS Tape)
It is said, "All that evil needs to flourish is for good men to nothing." And this film has a few good men that do nothing. So once again it is up to Brother Cadfael to sort out the mystery and if separate mysteries are related. I will not go thought the story blow by blow, as that is part of the intrigue in watching these films.
Shrewsbury needs a new priest. Due to the civil war between Empress Maud and King Stephen 12th-century England the priest is picked for his political leanings.
A local girl is having an illegitimate child and asks Cadfael for confession. Cadfael explains only a priest can do that.
Father Ailnoth, the new parish priest to Shrewsbury, earns the scorn of his parishioners. After refusing to absolver a parishioner for carrying an illegitimate child; later the priest is found dead in the river. There are plenty of suspects but a shortage of clues.
Cadfael - The Holy Thief
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