Customer Reviews

Cathedral

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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This film is great for two reasons. Firstly, it is a very detailed account of the purpose and development of the cathedral based around the account of a fictional cathedral construction project complete with a very dated (but wonderful) cartoon, interspersed with current (1983) on location examinations of cathedrals. The viewer will certainly gain an understanding of the social, economic and religious contexts of cathedrals in a light-hearted, amiable documentary.

Secondly, this film's dated quality appeals greatly to my sense of nostalgia for my childhood. I was only 7 when I first saw "Cathedral" and it captivated my imagination with a sense of wonder about the days of old when monks and kings and maidens were not just the stuff of legend. It was the beginning of a lifetime's interest in the subjects of religion and medieval history. Everytime I watch it, I feel like I am reliving two histories- the days of the great cathedrals and my own childhood afternoons in the long and cold winters of Michigan. Everyone needs those touchstones that remind them of the past's magic and sense of wonder, and this film does that for me. Give it a shot. I think you'll like it.

A wonderful and dramatic telling of the most famous French cathedrals of the Middle Ages. Not only do we learn about the marvels of this architecture in standard documentary style through David Macaulay's narration, but we are also treated to an animated story of the building of the fictional (but representative) Notra Dame de Beaulieu. Exceptional.

Next to the Doric temple the structure that most ineffably captures the concept of "purity" is the Gothic cathedral .With their soaring spires and flying buttresses these Gothic marvels incarnate the eternal human yearning for the infinite and the undefinable .This video walks you through the layout of a Gothic cathedral : nave , transept, altar,chapels , the crypt etc. Most of these cathedrals were erected in the late 12th to mid 13th century AD (Chartres c.1194-1221 AD , Rheims c.1209-1290 AD, Amiens c.1219-1269 AD , Bourges c.1195-1255 AD, Notre Dame c.1152-1240 AD & Laon 1153-1223 AD ). To me these cathedrals represent the first stirrings of creative energy in medieval Europe after being shrouded in the Dark Ages for more than 700 years . This same energy and love of learning and adventure spills over into the Crusades and culminates in the Rennaissance .Finally I must mention the animations in this video which liven up some of the human interest stories that went into the construction of these cathedrals : they are cute but a bit overdone . I would have much preferred it if the narrators had spent the extra time going over the finer details of the statuary & architecture at these masterpieces i.e. the aristocratic figures that face the west portal at Chartres .

David Macaulay's video series has to be one of the best introductions to some of the major architectural achievements in the ancient world. Combining animation with live-action shots of historic sites is a stroke of brilliance as both work hand-in-hand to enhance the viewer's comprehension of the architectural, social, and historical importance of the subjects Macaulay describes. David Macaulay, himself, is a wonderful host on this guide through the ancient world. There are four videos in this series: Pyramid, Roman City, Cathedral, and Castle, and I highly recommend them all.

Some background information first, to place my review in context. I have studied medieval history, have conducted surveys of medieval churches, and have even written about aspects of medieval history of my home town. So I approached this DVD with some trepidation and curiosity.

This 60-minute DVD commences with an animated sequence showing the imaginary old cathedral of Notre Dame de Beaulieu in northern France being destroyed by fire in the year 1214. `Oh dear', I thought, what have I let myself in for? But I had no need to worry. This is a marvellous production, with all the learning and integrity that PBS brings to its documentaries.

The programme focuses on the cathedrals of northern France - Chartres, Reims, Amiens, Bourges, Paris, Laon and Rennes all appear - and is presented by David Macaulay and Caroline Berg. (They are good, but have an annoying habit of addressing each other rather than the viewer.) They explain how the new Gothic style was distinguished by its greater height, its stone vaults and its walls of glass. They also quote and visit Abbot Suger's visionary works at the abbey of Saint-Denis, just north of Paris (although more recent academic work - this DVD was made in 1985 - has shown that postulated that Suger was really more of a traditionalist).

There are good graphic explanations on-screen of these changes in architecture and their effects, of how walls of glass, for example, had to be supported by piers of greater solidity, to compensate for the now-missing stone. The problem of the subsequent lack of internal volume that this entailed was solved by transferring the support away from the internal piers, which could now be more slender, outside through flying buttresses. The pinnacles on top of these are not there for purely decorative purposes, but also add weight and solidity to the structure.

Meanwhile, the interspersed animated sequences are extensive and continue throughout the programme, giving a good idea of the religious, financial, economic and social background to the construction of such mighty cathedrals. (The voices will be familiar, as they include such luminaries as Derek Jacobi and Brian Blessed.) The role of relics and pilgrimages is considered, as well as where the stone and timber came from to build these medieval skyscrapers, how the work paid for, and how it was organised. Details of how stained glass and tracery in rose windows are covered, as are the types of new sculpture supplied, how the roofs were erected and the stone vaulting was set, and the bells cast. The DVD also highlights the necessary economy in the use of stone.

As cathedrals competed to go higher and higher, there was bound to be a disaster waiting to happen. The collapse of the 150-foot high nave at Beauvais is shown in an aerial shot. Indeed, the aerial shots of the other cathedrals are excellent too, if a little short in length on screen. (But, hey, that's what's the pause button's for!)

Overall, I was very impressed with this DVD, which more than met my expectations. Much was already known, but much also was new to me, for example how the stone vaults were put in place. This programme makes a serious attempt at entering the medieval mindset in which religion and the church took centre-stage. I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the medieval period of western civilisation or with an interest in gothic art and architecture.

Outstanding! I have been using this video for years in my math classes. I wore one copy out and ordered another. It has animation mixed in so it keeps the students' interest. I learned a lot about the politics and architecture of the middle ages.

I watched "Cathedral" as a young boy and was in awe of history and the majestic Gothic cathedrals, and how they were built as well.

Although this documentary is from 1985, it is in no way outdated. The animation helps to make history accessible to younger viewers, and helps to reinforce it for adults.

Macaulay and Caroline Berg also do a great job in presenting Gothic cathedrals plus the histories of France and Christianity to life. They are on-site for the whole documentary, instead of being interviewed in a room. Their dialouge isn't dumbed down, but also devoid of mindless intellectual jargon. I have to add that music is also pretty cool, too.

Buy this for youself, your students, or for your children, especially if you would like them to see what a truly amazing church can be.

Now, whatever became of the lovely Caroline Berg...

As I've seen with other David Macaulay books brought to the small screen---Castle, Pyramid, Roman Town---Cathedral, another childhood favorite of mine, encapsulates a certain joyful magic as it brings its fact-filled story to life. Telling of the construction of a great Gothic cathedral in France during the high point of the era of faith, Cathedral interspaces live action shots set at Chartres and other notable Medieval sites, with affectionately drawn animation that lets us become eyewitnesses to the creation of a monumental work of architecture. Hosted by the author himself and narrated by Derek Jacobi, Cathedral is a rare delight.

This is still one of the best ways to understand the spirit of the cathedral age. I loved watching it as a child and was very happy to be able to buy it for my son. The cartoon style is similar to the original Hobbit movie and allows a dramatic description of the inner workings of a cathedral. Every age group will learn something and I highly recommend it for people planning a trip to Western Europe because it gives you a better appreciation for what you see.

It's hard to envision a Gothic cathedral being built -- they are such soaring, exalted, complex buildings that they almost seem unreal.

"Cathedral (1985) [Hosted by David Macaulay]" takes away some of cathedrals' mystery, but it also does a great job explaining the structure, origins and culture behind them. And it's paired with a solid animated story describing a medieval cathedral being brought into existence, despite the odds stacked against it ever being finished.

Half of the movie is devoted to David Macaulay touring through cathedrals, and talking about the way they were built, and the world that they were built in. So in other words, if you don't know what flying buttresses are for or how the weight is distributed, Macaulay will explain it to you. We're also told about the place of a cathedral in medieval cities, the artwork included both inside and outside, and even the tools that were required to construct it.

It's a good way to learn the basics, especially since small animated depictions of what happened are included for some of the more complex parts of the cathedral. It's laid out in clear, well-spoken language that manages to convey its points without getting bogged down in jargon.

There is also a fictional narrative that pops up between mini-lectures. It tells the story of a French town whose Notre Dame de Beaulieu is destroyed in a spectacular fire, and the only consolation is that a young monk is able to save a veil that supposedly belonged to the Blessed Virgin. He records the beginnings of construction on a new, bigger, seemingly impossible cathedral with "heavy stone ceilings, walls of glass."

But then the local bishop dies, and a new, corrupt bishop insists on using rotten stone from his family's own quarries while pocketing money for himself. Soon a disaster strikes in the half-built cathedral, and the town is facing bankruptcy... and it will take a literal miracle to help them.

The cartoon portion is what really keeps this show from being boring -- it's a compelling, low-key narrative with nicely realistic animation and some solid voice acting from Derek Jacobi and Brian Blessed. It also stops occasionally to have the characters explain to each other (usually to the monks chronicling its creation) the details of its making, such as the vaulted ceilings or how they cast church bells.

It also has a stark feeling of realism, such as the decades that pass before the cathedral is actually finished. Several of the characters actually die -- by old age and accident -- before the story ends. But it also captures the fierce piety of medieval life, as well as the soaring spiritual uplift created by the cathedrals themselves.

"Cathedral" is an excellent homage to Gothic architecture, and a great way to find out just how these complex structures were created. Everything I know about cathedrals I learned from David Macaulay!