Morningstar

An excellent and professionally made film on the man known to be instrumental in organising the translation of the Bible into English. But what I learnt and didn't realise was how he challenged a corrupt church that operated at the time as a business, not a sanctuary for the benefit and support of the faithful. This film is for everybody, not just Christians and details life in Britain at the time and how the corrupt church controlled people's lives and how John Wycliffe challenged the church with the words of the Bible that the church ignored in its aim of making money and how the church sought unsuccessfully to silence him.

We've all seen those bio-pics where talking heads spout off about people from history, or even from popular culture - this is not one of those.

Rather, it is a bautifully portrayed immersive cinematic portrayal of a man whose name is so much better known than his story. The facts, such that are known, are there and are sympathetically brought to life in a rich amalgam of interviews, commentary and dramatisation against a stunning backdrop of hills, dales, architecture and modern cityscapes. The musical score flowing throughout the film is delightful, adding to the flow of the story without overwhelming.

This could be quite a divisive story, as Wycliffe himself was a divisive character, but instead was presented in a competent and compassionate manner.

A "must watch" for anyone interested in the roots of later reformation, but also accessible to a much wider audience. I'm waiting with hope that the onward story has a chance to be unveiled.

I must admit that, until now, I knew very little about John Wycliffe. I was vaguely aware that he was instrumental in early translations of the Bible into English but that's about all. Seeing this film has changed all that. The action skilfully intersperses thoughtful documentary and some contemporary footage with a wonderfully well depicted and acted unfolding of an amazing history. The title is so very appropriate as it acknowledges the way in which Wycliffe and his followers were forerunners of the Protestant Reformation. It was reassuring that the great man died a natural death. It was however with indignation that we learned of the exhumation and burning of his bones many years later but poignant that the conclusion of the film showed the ashes being swept away by a river and thence into the sea, leaving us to imagine that this represented the way in which Wycliffe's influence has been carried out worldwide. Many thanks indeed to all who have contributed in any way. I hope that the film is the great success which it deserves to be,

At its end, you feel it be more a correct , wise crafted or useful documentary. Indeed, the contribution of. Philip Todd comentary, the interventions of people of Church and scientists is fundamental, like the acting.

But the basic virtue is perspective.

It is an universal story about truth and relation with God and courage to sustain your convinctions against adversities.

A film about faith in precise, simple, convincing manner. And this matters, Morningstar being not the first- or only documentary about life and legacy of John Wycliff but a direct interogation to viewer, but one proposing provocative perspective.

This makes it just special and, no doubts, an obvious must see documentary.

I don't normally like docu-dramas, one or the other usually seems irrelevent, but this works really well. And I must say the way this doc goes into a bit of depth is great, it's not 'dumbed down' at all, but really well researched and carefully produced.

I didn't like the guy presenting at first, he seemed a little pretentious and stiff, but as I got into the movie I got the sense that he was genuine, and somehow I felt like he actually cared about what he was talking about.

It's a very clever thing to entertain and educate at the same time, people my age will remember the celebration when the TV was rolled into class, this could well be one of those, and actually keep the kids watching!

This is one of those movies where you could literally not care in the slightest about the church and its history and just find yourself drawn in!