John Knox Documentary

KNOX Trailer from Trinity Digital Film on Vimeo.
The November issue of Evangelical Times has a review of the documentary on Knox from Trinity Digital trailed above.

Knox is a documentary produced by Murdo MacLeod, marking the five hundredth anniversary of the birth of the influential Scots Reformer, John Knox, which occurred some time around 1514.

The documentary is presented in a manner that we have grown used to. Philip Todd, the film's youthful presenter (in dark jeans, loose narrow tie, open velvet collared Chesterfield coat and leather gloves) moves from location to location (Edinburgh, Perth, St Andrews, Stirling, Berwick, Geneva, etc) telling Knox's story from his birth to his death and beyond. This is interspersed with a number of talking heads (ministers and academics such as Rev Maurice Roberts, Professor John McIntosh and Knox biographer Jane Dawson), cartoon images backed with actors reading the actual words of Knox (Stuart Falconer) and others plus a sprinkling of other appropriate images ancient and modern. Throughout, music (Charlie Wilkins) and other audio is used to enhance the presentation.

It is all done to a high standard, although Amanda Aiken's cartoons are not really up to the standard one could desire. (This is the point where the senior youth group start to snigger, if they get to see it). The documentary has, understandably, a very Scottish feel, which may limit its use in some places. Far from being a hagiography, it seeks rather to give a rounded picture.

The chief aim of the documentary appears to be to give us clear and accurate history but from time to time some of the talking heads make statements that are no doubt intended to encourage true faith in Christ and to challenge believers today. Such instruction comes over in the quotations from Knox too.

In the final section the conviction is very clearly expressed that Scotland needs a new Reformation. The final words are those of Knox himself calling on us to know God, to be faithful and to seek blessing for Scotland. It is encouraging to know that such materials are being made.