Rego Irish Records The Book of Kells

Welcome to the gospel according to Scottish documentary maker Murray Grigor, For The Book of Kells is an almost prayerful examination of the ornate relic that's considered the greatest Irish manuscript to survive the Middle Ages. Created in the 8th century and currently housed in the Trinity College library in Dublin, The Book of Kells is examined in a mix of the mystical and intellectual by this production that combines dramatic readings, close-ups of the exquisite pages hand-painted by monks, and plenty of interviews with reserved experts (historians, professors, a curator, an archeologist). Historical anecdotes and myths are woven in along with a little science (an analysis of the paint used). One especially informative segment literally illuminates parts of the drawings, to show how intricately the text was encoded. Naturally, The Book of Kells is at its best when the camera keeps the masterpiece squarely within its lens and, fortunately, that's much of the time. --Valerie J. Nelson