April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
Entertainment Column
Introducing St. Etheldreda's church
Two new videotapes try something different with two very familiar topics: Church history and the life of Christ. Both of them succeed.
"The Story of St. Etheldreda's: A Silent Witness" probably sounds like the last thing you would want to watch, but it turns out to offer viewers a fascinating slice of the history of Catholicism in England.
The hour-long video is hosted by Father "Kit" Cunningham, the current pastor of St. Etheldreda's, a London church that is the oldest Catholic parish in England. It has survived persecutions by Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, the Great Fire of London, 19th-century neglect and the Nazi blitz.
Biking through Britain
Wearing a sporty straw hat, Father Cunningham takes viewers from the cellar, where several bodies are literally buried, to the wooden roof, one of the few surviving relics of medieval architecture. He also travels -- by bike -- around England to explain who St. Etheldreda was and why the church named for her is so important in British and Catholic history.The result is very much like one of those Morley Safer segments on "60 Minutes" that focus on England: informative, entertaining and a must for anglophiles....
Taping Christ
If you had to compress the life of Christ into a 48-minute video, what would you leave out? What would you make sure to include? How would you portray Jesus so He didn't come across like every other movie Messiah?"The Revolutionary," intended primarily for teens and other youth, introduces viewers to a remarkably different Jesus: He smiles, dances, laughs and radiates a joy that says He likes being the Son of God. That's quite a contrast to the somber Christs we see in such films as "The Greatest Story Ever Told."
The video has some weaknesses, including a supporting cast that could have used fewer amateurs and less clumsy special effects. But the unknown actor who portrays Jesus, John Kay Steel, is excellent from his first appearance as a guest at Cana to His final instructions to His disciples right before the Ascension. The video is also beautifully photographed.
Good for teens
Religious education classes will enjoy viewing this version of the life of Jesus and could profitably spend follow-up time discussing what they would have omitted in order to make room for other scenes from the Gospels. For example, "The Revolutionary" leaves out the Last Supper and the trials of Jesus. To get those in, other scenes would have to go: Palm Sunday? the cleansing of the Temple? His walking on water?More importantly, I think teenagers will be attracted to this characterization of Jesus as someone who can smile or get mad as the occasion warrants....
Making a video
If you are a college student with expertise in video (or know one who is), the Christophers have announced their tenth annual contest that offers a $3,000 first prize for a five-minute film or video that interprets the theme: "One person can make a difference."Previous winners have used a variety of styles to make their point: documentaries, dramas, comedies, music videos and even animation.
If you'd like more information, write for an entry form and rules (the deadline for entries is June 6): The Christophers, College Contest, 12 E. 48th St., New York, NY 10017. There is also information on their web site at www.christophers.org.
("The Story of St. Etheldreda's" and "The Revolutionary" cost $19.95 each. To order them, call 1-800-523-0226.)
(02-06-97)
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