Product Details

• Actors: Flavio Insinna, Lina Sastri, Charles Dance
• Directors: Lodovico Gasparini
• Format: NTSC
• Language: English, Italian
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Ignatius Press
• DVD Release Date: February 20, 2007
• Run Time: 210 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000MTEKGY
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,891 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Flavio Insinna gives a winning performance as John (Don) Bosco, the great priest and educator of youth from the tough streets of Turin, Italy. Beautifully filmed in Italy, this epic movie dramatizes the many challenges that Don Bosco had to overcome from this childhood through founding his religious order, the Salesians, for helping educate boys. Growing up without a father gave him compassion for the many orphans that he cared for, while he faced persecution from both secular society and the Church as he fought to build a place to house and educate the homeless, outcast youth of Turin. His deep faith, creative imagination and profound charity shine through in this wonderful film. Also stars Charles Dance (Gosford Park) and popular Italian singer and actress Lina Sastri. Run Time: 200 minutes Format: 1 disk, DVD Publisher: Ignatius Press

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Saint with Great Imagination, Faith & Love, April 3, 2007

By 

A. Ryan (Spokane, WA. USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: St. John Bosco: Mission to Love (DVD)

St. John Bosco has always had a great appeal to me ever since I was a boy. And this films just captures the man's real, profound love for God, for people, and for life. Especially his true compassion and empathy for outcast youth, tough street kids in Turin, Italy. Bosco had no father himself growing up, and it no doubt helped him have a special understanding of the pain these outcast kids felt as he did everything he possibly could to help them build lives that were happy, productive and closer to God. John Bosco had a lot of opposition from secular society and even within the Church in his efforts to build a facility to house and educate these kids. But he had a very creative mind, a great talent & imagination for inspiring youth, tireless devotion to their needs, and a deep, unshakable trust in the love & mercy of God. Flavio Insinna does a fabulous job in portraying all these unique qualities of St. John Bosco, and this film has a very authentic feel for the period with the sets, locations, costumes. The rest of the acting is uniformly excellent, including performances by Charles Dance and Lina Sastri. The kids in the film also do a fine job, and the overall result is a captivating epic film on the life and mission of one of the most appealing saints in the history of the Church, St. John Bosco.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly wonderful!!!, April 20, 2007

By 

Amy Seltzer "100% Catholic, 100% pro-life" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: St. John Bosco: Mission to Love (DVD)

I have never been a devotee of St. John Bosco, but when my in-laws bought the movie, I wanted to watch it with them. It is wonderful! I really enjoyed this movie. I cannot comment on its accuracy, as I do not know enough about the saint to know if the movie is true to his life. That aside, this is a great film, and will inspire an love for this Saint of the youth.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A moving experience and a new friend..., September 23, 2007

By 

Anthea "Rockies girl" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: St. John Bosco: Mission to Love (DVD)

We purchased several Catholic themed films last year; some were okay, some were very dull. Saint John Bosco was a wonderful surprise! Firstly, this film is beautifully acted by people who radiate joy and love! Don't even think about using the English dubbing! The characters are in their voices and you'll love them right away. Second, we watched this film over several evenings because we wanted to savour the wonderful story. We couldn't wait to continue again the next night! Finally, this was a wonderful example of Christian principles lived out. We were completely inspired! This movie is a must for youth groups and families. Anyone older who has lost their zeal for the faith will get a lot out of it as well! Enjoy!