Educational Media Reviews Online

The producers of this program contend that it is the first film documentary about Chartres Cathedral. This fact alone recommends it to the viewer, but that aside, the program is extremely well-presented and interesting. If one ignores the disembodied interviewer that seems to emanate from nowhere, and the fact that some of the images are almost worthless due to the lack of any artificial lighting, the film still provides the viewer with a fascinating introduction to the cathedral and the meaning of its sculpture and glass. It soon becomes clear that the entire cathedral is a history of Christianity written in stone and glass. The discoveries of Professor Keith Critchlow, a leading expert in sacred architecture, and the foremost expert on Chartres, are fascinating.

While there is little information on the actual architecture of the structure, the analysis of the "masters of the compasses," and the unknown craftsmen provides new insights into not only the world of the Medieval cathedral builder, but also the sacred world that led to the construction of these marvelous buildings. A companion book to the video program is also available from the Riverside Book Company.

The program is highly recommended.