Mother Teresa
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Movie Reviews of Mother Teresa
Movie Review: MOTHER'S NATURE!
Summary: 4 Stars
Tagline: "HER HEART FOUND THE FORGOTTEN, HER FAITH FOUND A WAY."
On September 5, 1997, when Mother Teresa died, I did something that I rarely do when a person dies: I cried. I didn't cry out of mourning for Mother Teresa; I knew that she was now getting a well-deserved rest and reward. When a person leaves their physical instrument, they are flying closer to God, so I had no reason to be sad for Mother Teresa. I cried for the world because this sorry old, dilapidated and spiritually poor globe had just lost one of its most prayerful, enlightened, and positively influential examples of Christ's Love for His brothers and sisters!
I have never been Catholic, and I never will be, but Mother Teresa remains one of my favorite personal heroes. She would probably top my list of "Greatest Figures Of The Twentieth Century." I can think of no one from my lifetime who more exemplified the manner of life that I believe Jesus Christ calls us to live. I am nothing less than astonished and severely humbled when I think of her and the women who volunteered to work as she did. As I recently wrote in an E-mail to a new friend, "There was probably no stronger woman (or man) from her generation." The thought of her, and her Missionaries of Charity, really stirs my heart.
I gave a DVD copy of MOTHER TERESA, starring Olivia Hussey, to Good Friend Melanie for Christmas this year. (I gave her a couple of other good things, too, because that's just the kind of guy I am.) But she enjoyed the movie so much that I borrowed it from her one day and watched it that very night. And I enjoyed it just as much.
It begins with Teresa's "calling within a calling" when she observes how the abandoned sick are dying like dogs in the streets of Calcutta, and receives a sign from Jesus that she is to serve "the poorest of the poor." She subsequently embarks on an awe-inspiring journey to see the Face of her Lord in the poor, and to show them the Face of His Love in exchange. The film ends just two years before her death, when, in a revelatory moment, she realizes the folly of her association, and in essence, rediscovers her roots; "returns to the streets" in her "disorganized" Way - in a manner of speaking.
Throughout this lifelong journey, Mother Teresa must overcome myriad obstacles, some in the form of human beings who, from their materialistic world-view, can't possibly understand her mission or have faith in her intentions, and some in the form of natural hardships and the opposing work of God's unseen antagonist. The movie gives us a glimpse of some of the "miraculous" coincidences, where somehow Mother Teresa always seemed to get bailed out of an impossible situation by an equally invisible Friend. (In actuality, there were many more miracles related to Mother Teresa's life than are depicted here!)
Olivia Hussey, a real beauty in her youth but always a very serious actress, gives a very nice, understated performance. It's a bit uncanny how much she looks like the older Mother Teresa, and it's nearly preternatural how she mastered the aged nun's stooped but determined walk! There are good, suitably subtle performances across-the-board, but Emily Hamilton, in the small role of Anna, deserves special mention. She played every note EXACTLY RIGHT in the poignant scene where she learns of her unfortunate fate, and how she will be required to support Mother Teresa's work in the future. And the brief scene in which she later learns that Teresa was not offering her mere platitudes was one of my favorites in the picture! (It darn near made me "moisty." OK, it did... but just a little.)
My only negative observations have to do with the cinematography and musical score. I feel that the film should have imitated Mother Teresa's life in its approach, by adhering strictly to the most simplistic, or austere, style. Instead, on a few occasions, we get some creative flourishes: dissolving images, artificial angles and "artistic" lighting. And in a couple of places, the music becomes a shade too dramatic or intrusive. These aspects of the film should have all been kept to the most basic level possible in accordance with the unadorned life that Mother Teresa espoused. But this is only a minor complaint on my part, and these things will not significantly undermine your viewing experience.
Let's face it, it's really impossible to cover the scope and influence of the life of Mother Teresa in a single, two-hour movie, but I feel that MOTHER TERESA does about as fine a job as one could reasonably expect. If you want a good overview of her life, and you want a lesson in what a beneficial difference one faithful and hard-working person filled with the Love of Christ can make in this world, then by all means, make it a point to see this film. And be prepared to be put to shame, like I was.
"We are called upon not to be successful, but to be faithful." ~ Mother Teresa
Movie Review: A Beautiful Film In Which Every Viewer Can Benefit From Watching
Summary: 4 Stars
Wow, what a nice movie! It exceeded my expectations. Most "religious" films don't have the funding for first-class production values, but this one must have because it looks great.
That beautiful photography throughout the 115 minutes was one of the two biggest reasons I enjoyed watching this. The other was the number of profound truths said by Mother Teresa (Olivia Hussey). This was an inspiring film with some great statements. By the way, those production values included decent acting, too, at least by all of the adults. Some of the kids were so-so, but they didn't have many lines anyway.
What I appreciated what that the filmmakers did not water down the Christian aspect of Mother Teresa's life. Everything she said and did was for God's glory, as she states several times, only trying to please Jesus. Obviously, she succeeded like few others have with an amazing compassion and selfless attitude. There is no ego here, no pride, only what she can do for the sick and poverty-stricken.
This movie can be enjoyed by all. You don't have be a Catholic. I'm not, and I have total respect for Mother Teresa and cannot find fault with anything she said or did. For Believers, this should inspire them to act a little more Christ-like. For non-believers, this story is a great example for anyone who simply needs a nudge to go help someone less fortunate. There is no heavy-handing "preaching," either, for those concerned about that matter.
This is simply a quality film about an extremely quality person whose life should inspire all of us to become better people. This film did a great job in that respect.
Movie Review: Olivia Hussey is still lovely . . .
Summary: 4 Stars
More than twenty-five years before, Olivia Hussey was just as lovely when she played the Virgin Mary in Franco Zeffirelli's "Jesus of Nazarus," and did so brilliantly. She reprised the beauty of that performance in "Mother Teresa," which is timeless too. Serving the poor in Calcutta for most of her life, this Saint brought hope to those who had none and taught Jesus' Love to those who had seldom if ever experienced love before.
She received a Nobel Prize, but no earthy honor was her reward. Her faith truly found a way when there appeared to be none at all.
Movie Review: performance outweighs information
Summary: 4 Stars
Olivia Hussey's performance gets better and better through out the film..but if you have no understanding of the life of Mother Teresa you can get a bit lost...it doesn't do a good job of informing you of the sequence of events or give enough information to follow her life from a biographical point of view but if you want the spirit of MOther Teresa this film has it.Movie Review: A surprisingly good movie
Summary: 4 Stars
Not being catholic, yet appreciating some of what Mother Teresa had to say about service that is pleasing to God, I was caught up into watching this film. Production values are pretty good, though it's still clear it's a made-for-tv movie. I especially liked Olivia de Hussey in the lead role. A clean movie that gently teaches some good lessons.