This film shows most of the horrors of war without being too graphic. The actors portray their characters wonderfully, whether you hate the character or love them. Every character has a depth that seems to be hard to find. You can't help but become emotionally involved.
12 Reviews
Talk about a hack DVD release!!!
chrissso9 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
So I am watching this very promising mini-series from the BBC
circa 2000
and it just ends. I mean ends just as the war and the occupation has begun. I was stunned
no mention of the promise of the second front
or the Normandy invasion
or the push through France
or the retreat of the Germans
or the surrender of Germany and death of Hitler! Just silence! (insert proper French accent here)
Talk about befuddlement! So I investigate and that's where I notice that the one disk DVD release I have of this series (Granada International) is missing the 4th episode. One full episode that's 25% of the entire series!!! Seriously can you believe that Masterpiece Theater and WGBH would put their name on such garbage???
This egregious error aside this is a mini-series that had tremendous potential and delivered very little. Now there is word here that bad economic times delayed the filming of a second season (that would have occurred after broadcast in April 2000) and it is a fact that John Thaw contracted cancer sometime in 2001 (he died in 2002) and therein explains the failure.
That is tragic because if the series could have followed the course of the war and told this fascinating narrative it really could have been special! First and foremost Thaw was perfect in the role and that justifies a look see by itself.
RIP John Thaw you were a very special actor!
BTW: To show IMDb what I think of their disabling their message boards, I am vowing to stop using Amazon's pay per view service! Google Play, VUDU and Netflix are excellent alternatives ... and are often cheaper. Thanks IMDb/Amazon ... way to treat your dedicated customers who want to share their passion for films and history!
Talk about befuddlement! So I investigate and that's where I notice that the one disk DVD release I have of this series (Granada International) is missing the 4th episode. One full episode that's 25% of the entire series!!! Seriously can you believe that Masterpiece Theater and WGBH would put their name on such garbage???
This egregious error aside this is a mini-series that had tremendous potential and delivered very little. Now there is word here that bad economic times delayed the filming of a second season (that would have occurred after broadcast in April 2000) and it is a fact that John Thaw contracted cancer sometime in 2001 (he died in 2002) and therein explains the failure.
That is tragic because if the series could have followed the course of the war and told this fascinating narrative it really could have been special! First and foremost Thaw was perfect in the role and that justifies a look see by itself.
RIP John Thaw you were a very special actor!
BTW: To show IMDb what I think of their disabling their message boards, I am vowing to stop using Amazon's pay per view service! Google Play, VUDU and Netflix are excellent alternatives ... and are often cheaper. Thanks IMDb/Amazon ... way to treat your dedicated customers who want to share their passion for films and history!
Unvarnishing WW2
george-78125 November 2006
This unsung series went almost unnoticed when first broadcast. Like Foyle's War, it stares right in the face of some of the unpalatable truths about WW2. It's a gem. Sadly only four episodes exist, I think.
French and British people on the Home Front didn't all behave stoically. There was more collaboration than Resistance in France and very little Resistance at all for the first two years. Monsignor Renard is set in The Forbidden Zone, in the fictional village of St Jos-sur-Mer, close to Calais and focuses entirely on the life of the village, rather than the war, which comes to an abrupt halt halfway through the first episode. The excellent portrayal of everyday life under occupation tops everything recent and contains some great performances from Thaw, Cheryl Campbell, Andrew McCulloch and a very classy crew of native German actors.
Unfortunately, it was just getting into its stride when the plug was pulled and John Thaw, who was never better, tragically passed away. But what there is, is good enough. If you felt short changed by Charlotte Gray, or even if you liked it, you'll enjoy this more.
French and British people on the Home Front didn't all behave stoically. There was more collaboration than Resistance in France and very little Resistance at all for the first two years. Monsignor Renard is set in The Forbidden Zone, in the fictional village of St Jos-sur-Mer, close to Calais and focuses entirely on the life of the village, rather than the war, which comes to an abrupt halt halfway through the first episode. The excellent portrayal of everyday life under occupation tops everything recent and contains some great performances from Thaw, Cheryl Campbell, Andrew McCulloch and a very classy crew of native German actors.
Unfortunately, it was just getting into its stride when the plug was pulled and John Thaw, who was never better, tragically passed away. But what there is, is good enough. If you felt short changed by Charlotte Gray, or even if you liked it, you'll enjoy this more.
Great miniseries!
pmose26 December 2007
When I strolled into the beautiful French village of St. Valerie-sur-Somme as a tourist and saw a group of Nazis chatting on a street corner, I unfortunately did not know that this wonderful miniseries was being filmed. After seeing it on TV a year or so later I was so disappointed that I didn't wait and maybe get a chance to see John Thaw act, or some of the others of the fine cast (I did have a little chat with a "Nazi" extra, who was very friendly, very English and very hot in his woollen uniform in the French summer heat).
Great story about ordinary people in an ordinary little town during extraordinary times. It paints a realistic picture of that period, one in which not all French people were active in the Resistance and not all Germans -or even German soldiers- were bad people. There are shades of good and bad in every character in the series, as is the case in real life. That's what I liked most about this series, as well as the convincing period feel of it. And how nice to hear Germans actually speak German to each other! The English actors trying to pronounce french words and names sounded a bit awkward at times, but the solid acting made up for that. John Thaws performance as Monsignor Renard was great (sadly, the world lost a great actor when he passed away), but the less well-known actors that made up most of the rest of the cast were good too. Sadly only 4 episodes were made, I would have liked to see more of the village and it's people and the way they would have coped with the continuing war (since it was only the very beginning of 1941 when the story ended).
5 out of 5!
Great story about ordinary people in an ordinary little town during extraordinary times. It paints a realistic picture of that period, one in which not all French people were active in the Resistance and not all Germans -or even German soldiers- were bad people. There are shades of good and bad in every character in the series, as is the case in real life. That's what I liked most about this series, as well as the convincing period feel of it. And how nice to hear Germans actually speak German to each other! The English actors trying to pronounce french words and names sounded a bit awkward at times, but the solid acting made up for that. John Thaws performance as Monsignor Renard was great (sadly, the world lost a great actor when he passed away), but the less well-known actors that made up most of the rest of the cast were good too. Sadly only 4 episodes were made, I would have liked to see more of the village and it's people and the way they would have coped with the continuing war (since it was only the very beginning of 1941 when the story ended).
5 out of 5!
Great movie!
a.forbes6 June 2000
I thought this movie was so amazing! The acting was spectacular and the plot and everything about it. I saw it on KLRU on every sunday night that it came on. I think that the last part that the station showed, was the best. I've seen a lot of WWII movies and I have to say this has been the best by far!
Great mini-series
midsomer3318 November 2013
I found the miniseries heart touching and an exceptionally humane.The priest monsignor Renard was shown not just as a God servant, but as a brother, friend and before all a man. The atmosphere felt realistic - the Germans are not all bad and the french are not all good. It seem that they all are trapped in the war, and have somehow to survive and continue with their lives.
John Thaw was just superb in the role of Monsignor Renard. I simply loved how without saying much, he managed to show through his eyes, the complexity of his character.
There for I would suggest to anyone that likes the actor to watch it.
John Thaw was just superb in the role of Monsignor Renard. I simply loved how without saying much, he managed to show through his eyes, the complexity of his character.
There for I would suggest to anyone that likes the actor to watch it.
Quite sad that this series did not last longer
TheLittleSongbird12 July 2014
Monsignor Renard's only flaw was how abruptly it ended, the show really did feel incomplete and cried out for another series at least. And it probably would have done if it hadn't fallen victim to costs, with location shooting being expensive and the financial crisis at the time, and if John Thaw hadn't died so ultimely two years later. Its cancellation was nothing to do with lack of quality, if remembered correctly from what I read about it it was a ratings success and those who've seen and remember it do so fondly. It is a shame really because Monsignor Renard was a great series; it was very well-made with splendid locations(the scenery is the equal of that in A Year in Provence, another John Thaw gem and also shot in France) and the photography was professional and allowed us to enjoy it. The music was mostly understated while having some searing and suspenseful without being obvious. Monsignor Renard was intelligently scripted and is very thought-provoking; characterisation-wise it doesn't quite avoid stereotypes but the characters are interesting at least and while the Germans are more sympathetic than the French here Monsignor Renard doesn't try to be too one-sided. With the story there was a sense of the uneasiness and tension of the time but also how good the leadership was between the character and there is always room for a good-natured and warm-hearted approach, both of which Monsignor Renard has. The cast play their parts beautifully with the accents more than convincing. Cheryl Campbell, Andrew McCulloch and Dominic Monaghan are great but acting honours do belong to John Thaw in a role that is not quite among his best work(Morse, Kavanagh, The Sweeney, Goodnight Mister Tom) but stands out favourably among his latter work. He is classy and commanding and communicates a lot and sometimes just with his face and eyes. All in all, a great series that deserved a stronger resolution and better chance than what it got. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Awful rubbish
mharrison-176271 November 2019
An amazing series.
Sleepin_Dragon1 March 2022
After a twenty year absence, Monsignor Renard returns to his home village to take up the position vacated by his predecessor, no sooner has he arrived, The Germans occupy the village.
What an absolute gem of a series this is, first rate in every single aspect. A fascinating watch, think of what a series Allo Allo would have been, if it was made as a straight up drama.
The first and final episodes are both hugely gritty and dramatic, the middle two focus more on day to day life, as The French try to love alongside their Nazi invaders.
So much happens, you're made to consider the second world war from an entirely different perspective, easy to forget that this situation actually happened. We have love, hatred, we see collaborators and resistance.
Visually stunning, awesome sets, tremendous costumes, it looks so wonderfully authentic.
The acting is first rate, John Thaw is awesome as the main character, so different to Morse, Cheryl Campbell and Dominic Monaghan both impress equally as much.
How sad it ended after just four episodes, there were definitely more stories to be told here.
Terrific series, a wonderful watch, 10/10.
What an absolute gem of a series this is, first rate in every single aspect. A fascinating watch, think of what a series Allo Allo would have been, if it was made as a straight up drama.
The first and final episodes are both hugely gritty and dramatic, the middle two focus more on day to day life, as The French try to love alongside their Nazi invaders.
So much happens, you're made to consider the second world war from an entirely different perspective, easy to forget that this situation actually happened. We have love, hatred, we see collaborators and resistance.
Visually stunning, awesome sets, tremendous costumes, it looks so wonderfully authentic.
The acting is first rate, John Thaw is awesome as the main character, so different to Morse, Cheryl Campbell and Dominic Monaghan both impress equally as much.
How sad it ended after just four episodes, there were definitely more stories to be told here.
Terrific series, a wonderful watch, 10/10.
General comments
LOTR_Phreak16 September 2003
While the plot and the meanings of the movie were well done, and heartfelt, character development was not the greatest. It was hard to know who was who, until part three. Personally, as a Dominic Monaghan Fan, I was disappointed in his quite small roll, but still, seeing Dom Monaghan's early work was good.
The movie made you feel like you were actually in that time, and made you question yourself a lot. It was touching, but gruesome in some parts. The emotions and the way the characters act really put you in their shoes. The movie lets you in onto the World of Monsignor Renard. I personally thought this movie was well done, and good.
The movie made you feel like you were actually in that time, and made you question yourself a lot. It was touching, but gruesome in some parts. The emotions and the way the characters act really put you in their shoes. The movie lets you in onto the World of Monsignor Renard. I personally thought this movie was well done, and good.
Prime for a remake
kris-523-97623310 August 2017
Of all the TV series dealing with WW2 this one stands out as being very different. For a change Monsignor Renard deals with the everyday lives of a small Northern French village seen through the eyes of it's priest. The Germans are not all seen as the Nazi brutes of common perception, neither are the all the French brave resistance fighters. These are human stories showing how the conquering Germans learned to live with the conquered French and visa verse.
The acting is spot on, I've read that John Thaw was considered wrong for the part, no way, he shines throughout. Spot a young Dominic Monahagn who has gone on to Hollywood stardom in the Lord of the Rings saga amongst others.
It's a shame a second series was not commissioned, IMDb says it was because of low ratings for the first but I think it was more due to John Thaw's declining health, he died in 2002 less than two years after the series was screened.
The premise is still a good one and could be revived for a remake with more than one series. Come on, there must be a production company out there willing to take it on.
The acting is spot on, I've read that John Thaw was considered wrong for the part, no way, he shines throughout. Spot a young Dominic Monahagn who has gone on to Hollywood stardom in the Lord of the Rings saga amongst others.
It's a shame a second series was not commissioned, IMDb says it was because of low ratings for the first but I think it was more due to John Thaw's declining health, he died in 2002 less than two years after the series was screened.
The premise is still a good one and could be revived for a remake with more than one series. Come on, there must be a production company out there willing to take it on.
Pure excellence
selffamily10 March 2019
I'm pretty sure I've seen this before on TV but have managed to get hold of a copy of the four-episode dvds for this weekend and I've been glued to it. The cast is outstanding, the atmosphere electric and the four episodes were classic. I found it very similar to Un village Francais, with not so many confusing storylines, but the heartbreak and stress of the period expertly drawn. It's an interesting period to dramatise and beautifully done. I found that Mr Thaw's acting improved with age, so I love these later works of his. Pity they didn't do more -he was perfect in this role, so human and trying so hard to be pure priestly. Great supporting cast and loved that train!
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