DVD Review: David Suchet: In the Footsteps of St. Paul

The new revelatory BBC documentary DAVID SUCHET: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ST. PAUL debuts on DVD on July 15, 2014 from Athena, an RLJ Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: RLJE) brand. This two-part 2012 documentary, airing on public television, follows iconic actor David Suchet (Agatha Christie’s Poirot) on a journey of discovery around the Mediterranean ($29.99, AcornOnline.com). Suchet traces the life of Paul as it is written in the New Testament, learning about the man who helped transform Christianity into the global force it is today. Suchet recently completed the unsurpassed feat of portraying Agatha Christie’s legendary detective in all 70 stories featuring Poirot. The final three Agatha Christie’s Poirot episodes will be available only on Acorn TV, the premiere British TV streaming service in North America, in August 2014.

In David Suchet: In The Footsteps of St. Paul, Suchet sets off in search of one the great figures of the Bible—St. Paul the apostle. Controversial in his own time, Paul remains so today, a remarkable man of contrasts and confusions, a persecutor of Christians who experienced a miraculous conversion and an all-consuming drive to spread the faith. More than any other single person, Paul transformed Christianity from a small Jewish sect into the most powerful religion on earth.

Long fascinated by the apostle, Suchet takes a very personal quest, retracing the steps of a man believed to have traveled some 10,000 miles by foot across the lands of the Roman Empire and many more by sea. Along the way, Suchet talks to archaeologists, scholars, clerics, and locals, each of whom sheds light on an individual who did so much to shape the history of Western civilization.

Star of Agatha Christie’s Poirot, acclaimed actor and converted Christian David Suchet has felt a deep connection to St. Paul for more than a quarter century.

BONUS FEATURES

·         12-page viewer’s guide with a map; a timeline of the life of St. Paul; and articles on the Roman Empire in Paul’s day, Paul’s final years, and the writings of St. Paul

·         David Suchet biography

Street Date: July 15, 2014                                 SRP: $29.99     

DVD Single: 2 episodes • approx. 108 min., plus bonus • SDH subtitles • UPC 0-54961-2216-9-1

My Thoughts

In the Footsteps of St. Paul follows the apostle Saul/Paul's path along the Mediterranean  as he spreads the word of Christianity. David Suchet leads us on a fantastic journey, visiting scholars, clerics, and archeologists as he retraces the steps of this great man. There is so much information packed into this documentary, it had to be divided into two parts.

Part one begins in Jerusalem at the sight of the crucifixion of Jesus and the persecution of Jesus' followers. From there they move to Turkey to research Paul's Roman citizenship. They also stop at Damascus Road where Saul changes his name to Paul and full embraces Christianity and starts on a path that will make him one of the most influential followers of Christ. In part two, Suchet travels through Greece, Philippi, Thessalonica, Athens, and Corinth, following the life, arrest and imprisonment of Paul, and finally, his possible beheading. It's a long road and and a lot of information to take it, but Suchet makes it exciting and interesting, never preachy. I'm not a Christian, but I still enjoyed the detailed history behind this documentary. Anyone with an interest in history will love it.

If you'd like to pick up a copy of his awesome documentary, you can order a copy at Acorn Media for $29.99 or grab a copy on Amazon.