Narrated by Debra Winger, In Search of Angels explores the myth, meaning and allure of angels, both in history and popular culture, in a visually stunning program filmed on location in major cities, museums and art galleries in Europe and America.
Details
LENGTH: 1 x 60 Minutes
FORMAT: Special, Religion, Art
CAMERA: SD
INTERNATIONAL TRACK: No
TEXTLESS: No
CLOSED CAPTIONS: Yes
ASPECT RATIO: 4:3
PRODUCTION YEAR: PBS 1994
RELEASE YEAR: 2010
SUPPLIER: Perennial Productions
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
RIGHTS TERRITORY: Worldwide
Interviews with prominent personalities include Angels in America Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright Tony Kushner, recording artist and songwriter Rickie Lee Jones, America’s preeminent literary critic Harold Bloom, and best-selling author of A Book of Angels Sophy Burnham, among others.
The special features the most comprehensive collection of angel images ever assembled for television, with an abundance of treasured angelic works: Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s Ponte Sant’Angelo, Ecstasy of St. Teresa at Cornaro Chapel, and baldacchino at St. Peter’s Basilica; Louis Tiffany’s Chapel of the Angels and seven great lancet windows representing St. Michael’s Victory in Heaven at St. Michael’s Church in New York; Otto Wagner’s art nouveau masterpiece Kirche am Steinhof in Vienna; Marc Chagall’s luminous ceiling of musical, winged beings at Opera Garnier in Paris, to name a few.
In Search of Angels explores how the idea and regard for angels in human life persists, through venerated stories and depictions as well as in ever-new interpretations. John Milton’s tumultuous ‘War of Heaven’ from Paradise Lost – and Winger’s potent reading of it – posits striking contrast to film clips of the gentle, angelic longings in post cold-war Berlin from Wim Wender’s acclaimed films Wings of Desire and Faraway So Close.
Angels effects a beautiful, dense, rich visual tapestry for each narrative chapter: Angels in Popular Culture; the Celestial Hierarchy of Angels; Guardian Angels; archangels Gabriel, Michael and Raphael; The Annunciation and The Assumption of Mary; Angels as Intermediaries, Divine messengers, and Recorders; Angel of the Waters, and more.
In Search of Angels presents a bright musical palette; from classic choral works to contemporary instrumental and vocal works; with original theme music by Tim Story, from the Music soundtrack CD for Windham Hill Records.
Reviews
Thanks to a remarkable stream of paintings and statues of seraphim, cherubim and archangels, the special is never lovely to look upon. – People Magazine
A vast array of lush angel artwork and images populate the screen, evoking a feast for the eyes. – Chicago Tribune
“Gracefully directed . . .” – Daily Variety
“ . . . rich, heavenly music and a bright, lovely compendium of angels and things angelic.” – The Hollywood Reporter
Awards
- Best Documentary by SIVA; Gold Medalist, Houston Worldfest
- Best Program Editing & Graphics, Finalist, the International Telly Awards
