Affectionately Yours, Screwtape: The Devil and C.S. Lewis (2007)

Here is an old-school documentary on the context and message of The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, a classic work of Christian literature that is easily understandable, relevant to readers of any level, and likely to remain a popular tome for centuries. The documentary is reputable and informative, however, it is relatively dry, since it seems intended for Sunday school or church-based audiences. (Another reviewer said it would put her grade-school students to sleep within 3 minutes.) In other words, a rolling narrative of talking heads, commentary, and dramatization is spread across a video stream of medieval and classical artwork depicting the origins and conceptions of the devil, describing the literary and biblical influences C.S. Lewis would have known and used. Three talking heads (Dr. Bruce L. Edwards of Bowling Green State U, Dr. Scott Calhoun of Cedarville U, and Fr. Joseph Goetz, a doctoral graduate of Cambridge U) know the subject well and ably present their message. The weakness of this film is its narration and dramatizations (from an actor standing in as C.S. Lewis who repeatedly gazes up in the air with furrowed brow, then nods his head and resumes writing, to the mildly sinister Wormwood, whose voice frequency is altered to also sound sinister). I would more highly recommend this production if it were presented as audio only, and all voice talent besides the talking heads were improved. 3.5 stars. (8-31-2016)