Thursday, February 23, 2012

BBC to broadcast documentary film series on being Catholic

A sacristan at Westminster Cathedral, a former heavy metal band roadie turned seminarian, and first communion children from a rural school, feature in a new BBC documentary series that goes behind the headlines to explore what it is like to be Catholic.  

The series of three films is called, Catholics, and will feature on BBC 4 television starting this Thursday.  

It is an intimate portrait of a different Catholic world, revealing Catholicism to be a rich and complex identity and observing how this identity shapes people’s lives.

The first film, on Thursday February 23 at 9:00pm, is the Priests episode, filmed over six months, which is an intimate, behind-the-scenes, portrait of Allen Hall seminary in London. 

Filmmaker, Richard Alwyn meets men who are called to the priesthood.  

Rob Hunt, in his first year at Allen Hall, ignored his faith for years, had several relationships and worked in various jobs, spending time as a roadie for a heavy metal band, before deciding his life was veering off course and deciding to enter the seminary. 

The second film, Children, to be shown on Thursday March 1, was filmed throughout Lent and into the summer of 2011, and focuses on the children of St Mary’s Roman Catholic Primary School in the village of Chipping, Lancashire. 

Sitting at the foot of the Bowland Fells, in an area with a strong Catholic identity, this school has just 33 pupils, six of whom are preparing to make their First Holy Communion.  

Richard Alwyn’s film shows young children being encouraged to celebrate the riches of the natural world around them and to remember those less fortunate than themselves, as well as reflecting on Christ’s death and resurrection.

The local parish priest, Fr Anthony Grimshaw, now in his 70s, has a strong presence in the life of the school and the children.  

To the younger ones, he is the character who rides through the village on his shop-mobility scooter and reads Winnie the Pooh to them from his Kindle.  

To the older ones, he is more “on message,” talking with them about faith and fielding questions about his belief in the very real existence of Satan in this world.

The third film in the series to be shown on Thursday March 8 at 9:00m, focuses on Catholic women and how catholicism has shaped their lives. 

Richard Alwyn meets the women staff, volunteers and congregation of Westminster Cathedral.  

Among them is Rose, the second-in-charge of the Cathedral’s sacristy.  

She is a convert and Catholicism has proved to be an anchor in her life, sheltering her in crisis and protecting her in need.

There is also an interview with a retired doctor on the steps of the Cathedral.  

Catholic teachings on AIDS and contraception and its recent history regarding child abuse have led to her feeling alienated and unable to practise, even though she may still occasionally attend.  

Despite these difficulties, her Catholic identity remains strong, providing her with an important moral core that helps her with the chaos of life.

Catholics is produced by Wingspan Production in association with Jerusalem Productions.  Richard Alwyn is an award-winning filmmaker and writer with a distinguished track record in documentary and fact-based drama. 

His feature length film, The Beslan Siege, which chronicled the hostage crisis of September 2004, won the Prix d'Italia and was chosen by Observer television critic Kathryn Flett as one of her ten television highlights of the decade. 

Richard also executive produced BBC Films' BIFA nominated Shooting Dogs, about the 1994 Rwandan genocide.