Paul Bush Films

SO MANY, SO MAGNIFICENT
1987 - 44mins - 16mm - colour/BW
Produced, directed and edited by Paul Bush
Featuring - George Staines, Ron Delves, Peter Kinsey, Daniel Novoa, Andrew Staines
Singers - John Cogram, Gerald Finley, Denis Lakey
Script - Paul Bush, Joe Staines
Art Director - Georgina Carless
Costumes - Jill Zucker
Camera - John Stewart, Paul Bush
Sound - Bruce Hatfield
Music - sacred polyphony from the Middle Ages
Texts adapted from the writings of Abbot Suger of St Denis, St Bernard of Clairvaux and others
Archive film from the Imperial War Museum

In the shape of an ever-rising cross a church is built, stone on stone, until its spires strike the clouds. A thousand years after the death of Christ it is as if men have lost patience waiting for his prophecied return and have begun to build heaven for themselves on earth. In a series of tableaux resembling medieval illuminations the story of the building and eventual destruction of a great medieval church is told through the words and sacred music of the period.

'There is a rare treat on offer; spiritually uplifting is the cliche that springs to mind, although those viewers whose interest in cathedrals is more architectural and sociological than religious, might be more tempted to tune in if they are assured that the object of the film (shot in Canterbury, Lincoln, Salisbury, Southwark, Chartres, Reims, Soissons and Amiens) is not to show these great cathedrals as institutionalised monuments but as they appeared when they were built; what the significance was for people who lived in their medieval shadow; and how we, in materialist times, have debased the magnificent inheritance bequeathed to us.' Peter Davalle

'To the sound of liturgical chants and the writings of various saints, this charts the building of a church, blending landscape shots with tableau vivant of the monks and narrators. Stone figures carved into the edifice complain about the hardness of their unadorned lot. Old footage beneath a stained glass glow depicts the wars that tore down the completed church until we're back with the ruins in glorious colour, and finally the film-makers at work. Not the speediest of films but it has one glorious moment of creeping sunlight and some stunning shades of glass.' - Amanda Lipman

'A spirited yet serious approach to architecture...' - Sunday Telegraph 'Lovingly crafted...' - Guardian


Home Biography Films Hire and Sales News Contact Watch Movies

			SO MANY, SO MAGNIFICENT 1987 - 44mins - 16mm - colour/BW Produced, directed and edited by Paul Bush Featuring - George Staines, Ron Delves, Peter Kinsey, Daniel Novoa, Andrew Staines Singers - John Cogram, Gerald Finley, Denis Lakey Script - Paul Bush, Joe Staines Art Director - Georgina Carless Costumes - Jill Zucker Camera - John Stewart, Paul Bush Sound - Bruce Hatfield Music - sacred polyphony from the Middle Ages Texts adapted from the writings of Abbot Suger of St Denis, St Bernard of Clairvaux and others Archive film from the Imperial War Museum In the shape of an ever-rising cross a church is built, stone on stone, until its spires strike the clouds. A thousand years after the death of Christ it is as if men have lost patience waiting for his prophecied return and have begun to build heaven for themselves on earth. In a series of tableaux resembling medieval illuminations the story of the building and eventual destruction of a great medieval church is told through the words and sacred music of the period. 'There is a rare treat on offer; spiritually uplifting is the cliche that springs to mind, although those viewers whose interest in cathedrals is more architectural and sociological than religious, might be more tempted to tune in if they are assured that the object of the film (shot in Canterbury, Lincoln, Salisbury, Southwark, Chartres, Reims, Soissons and Amiens) is not to show these great cathedrals as institutionalised monuments but as they appeared when they were built; what the significance was for people who lived in their medieval shadow; and how we, in materialist times, have debased the magnificent inheritance bequeathed to us.' Peter Davalle 'To the sound of liturgical chants and the writings of various saints, this charts the building of a church, blending landscape shots with tableau vivant of the monks and narrators. Stone figures carved into the edifice complain about the hardness of their unadorned lot. Old footage beneath a stained glass glow depicts the wars that tore down the completed church until we're back with the ruins in glorious colour, and finally the film-makers at work. Not the speediest of films but it has one glorious moment of creeping sunlight and some stunning shades of glass.' - Amanda Lipman 'A spirited yet serious approach to architecture...' - Sunday Telegraph 'Lovingly crafted...' - Guardian