Stars:
Sir Derek Jacobi, Natasha Little, Michael Culler, and Julian Firth
Writer:
Richard Stoneman
Based
On The Book By: Ellis Peters
Director:
Ken Grieve
Feature
length: 75 minutes
Extras:
Audio Comments By Sir Derek Jacobi, Ellis Peters Biography and Booklist,
Production Scrap Book, Filmographies
Languages:
English Stereo
Subtitles:
English Captions
Packaging:
Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 8
Sound:
Stereo Sound
Year
of DVD Release: 2002
Home
Video Distributor: Acorn Media
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
“Cadfael”
is among the best television dramas Sir Derek Jacobi has ever appeared in since
his roles in the PBS presentation of “Hamlet” and “I Claudius.” The
attention to detail and the intrigue in watching how Jacobi as the sleuthing
medieval Brother Cadfael solves the crime using logic and rudimentary skills
learned from when he was Knight in the Crusades adds much to the way the series
carries the viewer along on the quest to unravel the mystery presented. The
character is interesting because in addition to going above and beyond the
boundaries set by the superstition of the age, there is a faint sense that it is
Cadfael’s own penance for actions he probably committed during his time in
Jerusalem that motivates him to solve crimes. We never know for sure exactly
what it was and where and how he learned his crime solving skills and the
knowledge of herbs and such, but it is reasonable to assume it is knowledge he
bough back from the East that has enlightened him to serve others within
Shrewsbury Abbey.
In
this installment Cadfael discovers the body of an old man among the belongings
of a pilgrim. However since the Abbey has opened it’s doors to pilgrims from
all over for “Cripples Day,” Cadfael cannot be sure for certain who
committed the murder and how. After boiling the body down to the bones searching
for clues to the victim’s fate, Cadfael is misdirected long enough for the
evidence within the bones to be stolen. Now Cadfael must put the pieces together
behind the robbery as well as the murder to solve the crime.
This
is one of the best “Cadfael” episodes I have seen yet. It features a subplot
involving the idea of “miracles” as well as penance while calling into
question the morality behind who decides just how one’s soul is cleaned from
sin and the nature of forgiveness. As with other episodes in the series,
attention to detail is a high priority and so “Cadfael: The Pilgrim Of Hate”
has a very monochromatic and drab look to it. Occasionally one might see a shade
of blue or so in a character’s wardrobe, but it is usually among the gentry
who serve the abbey since many poor pilgrims could not afford fine clothing, let
alone colored ones.
A
favorite from the PBS series “Mystery” in America, Acorn Media presents this
BBC import in the (1.33:1) aspect ratio in which the series was shot and
broadcast. The picture quality is somewhat soft with a bit of noticeable grain,
but this is from the actual film stock used and not result of MPEG-2
compression. The English Stereo Soundtrack is clear and free of hissing and
optional English Captions are also encoded on to the DVD for the hearing
impaired.
Like
other volumes in the series, “Cadfael: The Pilgrim Of Hate” features another
installment of an audio recorded interview with Actor Sir Derek Jacobi. Jacobi
is quite candid about the differences between working in feature films,
television, and the theater. He states that he loves working in the theater
because Actors have more of say in the way their character is presented, but
also admits that theater alone will not make an actor wealthy and any Actor who
is wealthy from doing theater alone, got his wealth from another means. He also
states that television offers steady work and a chance to become famous while
feature films are where an Actor can become truly wealthy financially. I
sincerely admire the straightforward honesty Sir Jacobi gives in these audio
comments. I do not think many Actors would be so open to say it as plainly as he
did. Bravo.
A
short gallery of still photographs from the production of the episode is
included along with biographical information on Ellis Peters complete with a
booklist, biographical information on Sir Derek Jacobi and filmographies for Sir
Derek Jacobi, Natasha Little, Michael Culler, and Julian Firth.
The
main menu is animated and there are full motion scene selection menus as well
and all of the interactive menus are easy to navigate. “Cadfael: The Pilgrim
Of Hate” is available now on DVD-Video at retailers on and offline from Acorn
Media.
©
Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.