Customer Reviews

Maria Goretti

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is another very moving film in the growing group of inspiring, well made feature films on lives of saints produced in Italy, and released in the USA by Ignatius Press. Young Italian actress Martina Pinto gives a luminous performance as St. Maria Goretti, the daughter of outstanding parents who struggle heroically to raise their children amidst the poverty and malaria infested swamps in Italy. She epitomizes that purity and goodness that have been strongly associated with this martyr and patroness of modern youth. Popular actor Flavio Insinna (St. John Bosco) stars as the brave parish priest standing up against the injustices to the poor who takes the Goretti family under his wing. Well-known glamorous Italian actress Claudia Koll, who has had a major spiritual conversion in her own personal life, starts as the Countess Mazzoleni.
The powerful movie is beautifully filmed on location with outstanding cinematography. A real bonus in this film is the gorgeous music score by legendary Oscar winning film composer Ennio Morricone. Plus the DVD includes a very informative 16 page collector's booklet about Maria Goretti and the film, replete with numerous photos from the film. This film is a winner!

I am addicted to this movie. I remember seeing a movie about Maria Goretti in Catholic grade school - but only once. I should have been made to see it over and over and the teachers should have made the students discuss it over and over. The music, scenery and the wretchedness of the times are overwhelming. I have tried to find more information on the actors but there is little.

Please read Allessandro Serenellis final letter which I did found.

"I'm nearly 80 years old. I'm about to depart.
Looking back at my past, I can see that in my early youth, I chose a bad path which led me to ruin myself.

My behavior was influenced by print, mass-media and bad examples which are followed by the majority of young people without even thinking. And I did the same. I was not worried.

There were a lot of generous and devoted people who surrounded me, but I paid no attention to them because a violent force blinded me and pushed me toward a wrong way of life.

When I was 20 years-old, I committed a crime of passion. Now, that memory represents something horrible for me. Maria Goretti, now a Saint, was my good Angel, sent to me through Providence to guide and save me.

I still have impressed upon my heart her words of rebuke and of pardon. She prayed for me, she interceded for her murderer. Thirty years of prison followed.
If I had been of age, I would have spent all my life in prison. I accepted to be condemned because it was my own fault.

Little Maria was really my light, my protectress; with her help, I behaved well during the 27 years of prison and tried to live honestly when I was again accepted among the members of society.

The Brothers of St. Francis, Capuchins from Marche, welcomed me with angelic charity into their monastery as a brother, not as a servant. I've been living with their community for 24 years, and now I am serenely waiting to witness the vision of God, to hug my loved ones again, and to be next to my Guardian Angel and her dear mother, Assunta.

I hope this letter that I wrote can teach others the happy lesson of avoiding evil and of always following the right path, like little children.
I feel that religion with its precepts is not something we can live without, but rather it is the real comfort, the real strength in life and the only safe way in every circumstance, even the most painful ones of life."

Signature, Alessandro Serenelli

I was really impressed and moved by this film. It uses some artistic liberty in telling the story of Maria Goretti but it remains faithful to the core of her life. Some films based on lives of Saints will take an unreal approach to its story and characters and I sort of expected it here, so I was really surprised by the strength of the writing, character development, and acting! Each member of the cast fully realizes his/her character. And even though you know and expect the ending, when it comes, you can't help but cry. It's a very touching and powerful portrait of Maria Goretti.

MARIA GORETTI had a tremendous cast, and with an excellent Marriconne musical score, this movie could have been outstanding. This story was more about the activist priest than about the subject of the movie, Maria Goretti.
A poorly-written script that deflated quickly after the first ten minutes. There were many inconsistencies where the writer took too many liberties with the actual story. It seems that an Italian-made movie about an Italian saint would be a more accurate tribute. It was a made-for-TV movie in Italy, and maybe that's the explanation, however, this had the potential to be a much finer presentation.

Wow! This movie should be MANDATORY viewing material in Catholic schools....all schools that value virtues for that matter! Parents purchase this moviewhen teaching your children about the sacredness of sexuality. It will reach them easily...probably much more easily than you might.

This was generally a good video to share with tweens and teens. The translation into English was a bit awkward. It would probably be best to watch it in Italian with English subtitles. We watched it in English with English subtitles (don't ask) and because the mouths did not necessarily move in sync with the translation we got a real "Jackie Chan effect." Also, I was surprised that Maria was pictured on her first Communion day wearing white when she is reportedly supposed to have worn red (the red was so much more significant). Anyhow, besides these two negative remarks the film was very good and the character Maria was excellent along with the supporting characters.

This is a wonderful movie to watch with family members. The story is long enough to tell of her life, but short enough not to lose interest. My husband and son found it CHEEZY but my daughter and I enjoyed it very much.

Since I was a little girl, I have known the story of Maria Goretti. I was thrilled to know that there was a DVD made of her life. The child star was perfect for the part...the story was heart-warming yet very sad. It was a true story, well-done!

Great inspirational movie. Grat role model for all the children who have their faith in GOD.

This movie of Maria Goretti gives an impressing insight into the saint's and martyr's life. The film shows that Maria was a natural and friendly girl with many talents and a deep love for God and her family. She resisted strongly the sexual expectations of Alessandro Serenelli who tried to abuse her. The young man didn't want to give up and became her murderer, but she forgave him and showed an example of love and mercy. I highly recommend this movie to believers and non-believers!