St. Teresa of Avila
by Josefina Molina
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Concha Velasco, Francisco Rabal, Hector Alterio, Patricia AdrianiDirector: Josefina Molina
Brand: Ignatius Press
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: Spanish (Original Language)
Format: NTSC
Running Time: 450 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-02-11
Studio: Ignatius Press
Movie Reviews of St. Teresa of Avila
Movie Review: A New Standard in Catholic Cinema
Summary: 5 Stars
This film is a work of extraordinary realism and balance. Focusing on the life and works of St. Teresa of Avila, and giving a full rounded portrayal of her, the film's agenda also broadens toward a universal statement about the Catholic life. It becomes an illuminating unmasking of spiritual pitfalls, temptations and pretensions against the background of an age of history, with its own highs and lows that the journey of a saint's life must weather. The Catholic position of course -- shocking to some of our Christian friends of other denominations -- is that simply "witnessing" or proclaiming faith is no guarantee -- Hell's maw is open to swallow you up until your last breath, and the greatest risks are interior, not exterior.
Actress Concha Velasco is fully convincing at every stage of Teresa's life, and delivers a performance not matched in any other film based on Catholic themes I have ever seen. The film itself, although little known in this country until recently, is a serious contender for the best Catholic film ever made to date. In profound dimensionality it portrays not only the the humble consolations of the saint's life, but all the obstacles she must weather including grappling with her own personality, however insightful and gifted she may be.
The other key to the film's success is the well directed script's unflinching realism and honesty. Those with only superficial exposure to the great Spanish mystics, Teresa and John of the Cross, may be surprised and shocked by the film's early tackling of the saint's youthful faults and follies head on. Simply, an American audience has ingested way too much cliched spiritual junk food in the form of lard-coated Hollywood "epics" ala The Greatest Story Ever Told, The Ten Commandments, and the like, unfortunately now celebrated as "the golden days" by certain Christian and Catholic venues. We Catholics also had our very own turkeys, with child mystics portrayed like cutesy American kids next door in films based on Fatima and Lourdes, not even to mention the Bing Crosby/Barry Fitzgerald singing priest sagas, which at least had the excuse of being pure entertainment. Recent "instant biographies" on film of figures like Mother Theresa and John Paul 2 haven't helped, either. The way to paradise, in any of these clunkers, is indistinquishable from Dorothy's Yellow Brick Road in Oz, and the central "saint" figure virtually untistinguishable from Dorothy.
This film was made a couple decades ago and retains the freshness of yesterday. One suspects it will look the same way 50 years from now. It sets a new standard for Catholic cinema, an Everest (or perhaps, more accurately, a treacherous K2) which will reduce any other "religious" film you have ever seen to foothills.
Summary of St. Teresa of Avila
A powerful epic mini-series shot on location in Spain that tells the story of one of the most amazing women in history, St. Teresa of Avila. With meticulous attention to detail and historical accuracy, outstanding production values, and an incredible performance by actress Concha Velasco as Teresa, this acclaimed major film production is the definitive film on the life of this great saint.Teresa of Avila was called by God to reform and renew the Carmelite order, a daunting task. She was joined in this work by her great fellow Carmelite and spiritual director, St. John of the Cross. This film reveals the conversion that Teresa herself had to go thru to deepen her own union with Christ as she endeavored to bring about that same deeper spiritual reform of her Carmelite order. It shows the tremendous opposition that she and John both faced within (and without) their order to bring about this much needed spiritual renewal. She and John of the Cross were both great mystics who combined the essential dimensions of a profound spiritual life with the very practical aspects of being completely dedicated to the human tasks necessary for such a reform.
This DVD has the following language tracks: Spanish with English subtitles.
Includes a 16 page Collector's booklet. Also has many Special Features, including: Documentary on the Making of the Film, Behind the Scenes Footage, Interviews with Actress and Director, Biography of St. Teresa and St. John of the Cross and much more!
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