DVD Reviews

Cadfael: Complete Collection – DVD Review

By June L. Nov 3, 2010, 19:48 GMT

Once a Crusader, now a man of the cloth, the worldly but humble Brother Cadfael uses his keen intuition to protect the innocent and bring the guilty to account in war-torn medieval England. Sir Derek Jacobi (I, Claudius; Gladiator) gives a captivating performance as the crime-solving monk in this award-winning series. Seen on PBS’s Mystery! and based on the bestselling books by Ellis Peters, these 13 dramas offer a riveting ...more

If you are at a loss as to what to give the mystery lover on your holiday list, consider the wonderful complete collection of Cadfael. 

Acorn Media presents 13 discs of medieval mysteries starring Sir Derek Jacobi as the intuitive Brother Cadfael.

The adventures of Brother Cadfael are based on the novels of Ellis Peters (the pen name for the series of well renowned historian and writer Edith Pargeter.)  Set in a time period not covered by many authors, a time of bitter civil war between two cousins Stephen and Maud for the throne of England, Cadfael brings to life the customs and styles of 12th century Shrewsbury centered around the monastery. 

Within the community the viewer sees all levels of life, from noble to peasant, and also the personalities and hierarchies of the priory and its inhabitants.  Brother Cadfael unlike many has had a life in the outside world before taking Holy Orders, and this has included being a valiant warrior during the Crusades. 

His life experiences have given him an understanding of humanity and its weakness, and he is able to assess the motives and actions to help solve the crimes that are committed.  Before an age of forensic science, it is fascinating to see how Cadfael uses his senses and his intuition to work out the clues.  His expertise is valued by the legal authorities, but he often has difficulties with the authorities in his order. 

Cadfael was filmed in Hungary in the early 1990’s, in an area around Budapest that translates to a wonderful representation of Medieval England.  This setting gives the production a sense of reality, and allows viewers to slip back in time effortlessly.  Costuming and set design are complementary to the story, with no anachronisms or modern elements to jar the viewer out of the interpretation. 

Guest stars and support cast will have familiar faces to audiences who regularly enjoy British television and films, Jonathan Firth, Tara Fitzgerald, Hugh Bonneville, Sean Pertwee, and Julian Glover just to name a few.

Cadfael: Complete Collection is presented in a boxed set of four keeper cases with 13 discs.  There is an insert with an introduction and overview of the series written by Sir Derek Jacobi, and illustrated with stills from the production.  As well as the 13 mysteries, there are some very nice special features. 

There is a biography of Ellis Peters (Edith Pargeter) and a full listing of the Cadfael novels.  Audio comments by Sir Derek Jacobi as he remembers key events in the filming and production days adds to the enjoyment of the series, as well as the knowledge that he was approved for the role by the author. 

There are production scrapbooks for each mystery, and historical background for the series. 

This is a fine set of extraordinary mysteries that belongs in the collection of those who enjoy high quality drama.

Visit the DVD database for more information.