Customer Reviews

Chartres Cathedral: A Sacred Geometry [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I love this DVD!

I hope someday I can see Chartres Cathedral for myself, but for now, I am thrilled to have found this DVD. I had no idea about the sacred geometry involved in the construction of a medieval cathedral, the direct relationship of its proportions to the proportions of the human body, and so much more.

It's exciting and provocative to realize that people in medieval times had a wealth of knowledge that we have lost in our scientific, materialistic era. They understood that there is another dimension to life beyond what we can grasp with our senses, and they managed to incorporate this knowledge into their sacred architecture. The deep faith which drove their loving, intentionally anonymous work may have been largely left behind in the intervening centuries, but we still yearn for something beyond what our day to day lives offer. And entering into an ancient cathedral like Chartres affects many people in unexpected and deeply profound ways. Can the spiritual concepts which informed the architecture have something to do with this reaction?

I highly recommend this DVD to anyone who is fascinated by the spiritual dimensions of the architecture of Chartres, or of medieval cathedrals in general; and also to anyone who simply wants to get a close look at one of one of the most awesome buildings in the world.

When I read several of the negative reviews here, I am struck by how they miss the whole point of the film and essentially the whole point of the cathedral. This documentary, which I find simply breathtaking in its detailed analysis of the meaning of Chartres, reinforces something that is so lacking in our time- a sense and remembrance of what is sacred. The various scholars who are interviewed for this film reiterate this key frame of mind that was present in the builders and worshippers of the 12th Century. They knew what it meant to worship God and find God present in all things and in all places. That is the whole point, and they directed their mostly anonymous toil and craftsmanship to this end- the remembrance and experience of the sacred.

Not only does this DVD give breathtaking tours of Chartres, it is accompanied by a high degree of historical and theological scholarship that clearly and profoundly explains the methods and purpose behind its higly symbolic design. Certainly worth five stars!

See also the VHS "Cathedral" by Macaulay and the most excellent book, "Building the Great Cathedrals" by Francois Icher! You won't be disappointed.

Enjoy!

This powerful video talks about the timeless and enduring values that have supported individuals and communities from the beginning of time. The building of the Cathedral of Chartes involved the entire Christian community working in harmony to achieve a noble purpose that will long endure. "All hearts were united and each man forgave his enemies."

If you have had the experience of praying or sitting quietly for any period of time in the great English or European cathedrals you will understand what this dvd is trying to communicate. If you have not had that experience, then this dvd will serve as something of a teaser. This is a very useful film if you are interested in architecture, sacred art, medieval studies or even general spirituality. The sound quality and image are perfect, and you really get a sense of being in a sacred space dedicated to bringing both heaven to earth and earth to heaven. At a time when the vast majority of people could not read, the cathedral functioned as a sort of book, with the windows and statuary being the text, the masonry being the binding. Its story is that of ourselves, from the creation to the last judgment when we will be judged not only for our own lives, but also for the rippling effects that our lives have had upon the world until that last Day, the beginning of the Eighth Day of our Lord.

Aside from the general technical aspects of medieval architecture, which are thoroughly covered, you will learn a great deal about the theological and astrological symbolism behind the form and function of the cathedral. Something that struck me was how the medieval builders at this time (12-13th century) based the proportions of their design upon the human body and the cycles of the moon and sun. You will come away with a very sound respect for the builders of the age. Just odd how skilled they were in calculating the forces of gravity and wind when they had never built anything like this before. The commentators in the film all posit that the designers were actually inspired by the Spirit of God and after studying Chartres for some time I would have to wonder if they are not right. I could go on and on about the symbolism, but just sit back and soak it in.

Viewers would perhaps also enjoy Cathedral (1985) [Hosted by David Macaulay] and Modern Marvels - Gothic Cathedrals (History Channel) (A&E DVD Archives)

I will be visiting France and Chartres on a pilgrimage in May. I got the DVD in anticipation of that.

I felt compelled to write this review in support of the DVD after seeing a couple of very negative and false reviews posted here. They said that the DVD did not present the history of Chartres Cathedral - IT DID! They said too much time was spent with the narrator - Wrong!! There were several narrators and guides, all giving wonderful insights into aspects of the Cathedral.

As one of the narrators/guides/authors (Malcolm Miller) pointed out; entering Chartres is like entering a library. You shouldn't expect to be able to read all the books in the library in one visit. Chartres is a visual library, and it too can't be read and absorbed in one visit, particularly just 60 minutes in a DVD. The DVD, did an excellent job in the time it had, and left me wanting more. I appreciated the preview this gave for my visit.

I thought this would be an art history product with primary focus on the architecture, stained glass and statuary. Instead, much of the disc is devoted to discussion of the spirituality of the cathedral, how it makes one feel. A fair amount of the 1-hour DVD is spent on showing a speaker's head and shoulders rather than showning the building.

The "editorial review" shown on this site actually is the blurb from the back of the box.

An upbuilding, spiritual journey. A movie to watch when you are depressed, low, blue, an inspiring project. It reminds us of our potential as individuals. A movie to watch when a humble lesson is to be taught, an inspirational piece of work, an authentic expression of greatness.

Excellently presented, high-quality overview of Chartres Cathedral with a history of the sacred geometry behind its construction by unknown craftsmen and architects. Inspiring and evocative of the highest ideals possible; contrasted with the utilitarian approach prevalent today.

This is not a straight historical movie, so if that is what you are looking for as a viewer, then this may not be the best movie to watch. It is beautifully done. The camera work is high-quality, the narration is easy to follow, and the objective and subjective qualities of such a monument to faith are well covered. There are many topics covered about Christianity, but also how the cathedral was built with the 7 scared chakras in mind. Overall it is a very interesting documentry.

With the scribing of a few circles followed by the offhanded identification of some basic architectural relationships within the building, voilà!, this movie superficially touches upon its premise, "sacred geometry" and then takes flight into history, spiritualism, and dreadfully amateur choral music. Truth be told, this movie is a paen to religion and thus almost completely ignores the actual science, tradition and craftsmanship that informed the builders of yore.

Most of its material is built upon the moviemaker's interviews with three gentlemen: Malcom Miller, a respected Chartres scholar, Keith Critchlow, an arts & architecture lecturer, and the dean of the cathedral. Miller is filmed at his best: lecturing tour groups about the history of the cathedral. When pulled aside, to his credit, he refuses to take the interviewer's bait to ascribe divine control over the builder's actions. Critchlow, however, happily devours the bait and delivers a tour de force of speculation only to be surpassed by the blathering pronouncements by the cathedral's dean who in the final minutes of this film manages, offensively, to cast the specter of AIDS as a symbol of unbelief.

This movie is trivializing drivel. Avoid.