Tales from the Madhouse

Description

Set inside the crumbling walls of a dilapidated Victorian sanatorium, eight mysterious characters reveal their secret stories to the visiting camera. The eight are linked by one unifying and crucial event in their lives: each of them has had an encounter with Jesus of Nazareth in some way — an experience that has left an indelible mark.

Each character brushed with Jesus but most missed the moment. They touched the light then lingered in the shadows. They were offered freedom but made friends with their chains. Now they are haunted by the memory of what was and what might have been. Here is an acclaimed series that opens up the Scriptures, the story of Jesus, and Easter week in a fascinating way.

Includes Pilate's Wife starring Clair Bloom, The Rich Man starring Peter France, The Best Friend starring Tony Robinson, The Mourner starring Eileen Atkins, The Servant Girl starring Helen Baxendale, Barabbas starring Joss Ackland, The Centurion starring James Cosmo, and The Thief starring Jonathan Pryce.

Eight 14-minute episodes/color

Customer Reviews:

A Worthy Diversion From The Norm! .......2005-04-14

I recommend this collection to any sunday school class that has fallen into a funk. Produced and broadcasted on the BBC, each episode is both masterfully directed and acted by veterans from the British stage and film industry.

As the title would suggest, these stories fall into the creepy, if not macabe, worlds each of the charactors have created for themselves. These are not tales of inspiration, but lessons of tragic failure and missed opportunities for salvation. Pain, loneliness, shame, despair, bitterness, selfishness - all of the dark corners of the human experience are revealed in the rooms of the madhouse......rooms for which Christ is only a memory and no longer welcome.

The purpose of this collection is not to raise the fear of damnation. Instead, it is a contempative exercise most suited for those who have already chosen the faith, yet humbly acknowledge their own shortcomings. There is insight to be gained from every hell presented here. Believe me. A single viewing of each episode will not be enough. Repeated viewing will inspire new discoveries each time.

Highly entertaining and provocative!

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