Grasping for the Wind

Cadfael

For the last two weeks, I have been re-watching (on VHS) the Cadfael mysteries. Based on the Ellis Peter's books, the show starred Derek Jacobi and aired on PBS's Mystery series. I love watching this medieval monk solve crime! I wish more than the thirteen episodes had been made. I think the films do a good job at portraying life in medieval times, to the extent they could with small budgets and limited resources. The acting really does well at showing how very different the motivations of the people of the time were from our own.

Even though Hugh Beringar took many forms (they kept changing actors - 3 times!) it still didn't detract from the quality of the films. All of the characters are wonderful to watch, but Jacobi really shines. His facial expressions and clipped British really portray the world-savvy but cloistered Brother Cadfael.

Going through it again, I failed to notice how diplomatic the Abbot Radolphus character was. He had to balance the insinuations of Brother Jerome, the holier than thou attitude of Prior Robert, and the disobedience of Cadfael. He did what he felt was best, and was never swayed by Cadfael or Robert, but took their input into account. He was not Cadfael's antagonist although he might at first glance seem so.

The movies do emphasize the worldliness of Cadfael a bit more than the books do. Cadfael was world-savvy, it is true, but he was also devout, although not a zealot. The books better show that he upheld reason and sought justice, but all within the context of God's will. The movie would make the "God's will" phrases into little more than exclamation points at the end of sentences.

I enjoy these movies immensely, and it is unfortunate that my copies are becoming worn. I hope one day to purchase the DVD version, so that I won't have to deal with the damage to VHS and view my favorite scenes more often.

Posted by John on November 14, 2006 03:55 PM | Posted to Literature and Language
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