Customer Reviews

St. Teresa of Avila

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Finally this great mini series is coming out on DVD. I first saw it on EWTN and then found a copy on VHS and watch it all the time. Even though this series came out in 1983, it is timeless in its telling of the incrediable life of this great saint. It is vivid in the portrayal of Teresa and the world she lived in. Concha Velasco is brilliant as Teresa, revealing to us a saint that was both very human and at the same time a great mystic. She shows us a woman who was struggling with inner demons as her spiritual vocation was evolving towards the union she shared with her God as well as the difficulties of the era she lived in and the re-organization of the Carmelite order she was a part of and that had turned away from its original austere charisma. She found herself with enemies on both sides of the spectrum, from the laity as well as her own religious communities. Only a few churchmen and nuns along with St. John of the Cross understood her mission. Another enemy fighting against her was her own body as she was always sickly throughout her life, getting worse as she grew older. For anyone interested in the life and spirituality of Teresa of Avila, this series is for you.

This is without doubt the best miniseries I've ever seen and I would daresay the best ever made. Concha Velasco brilliantly portrays the great 16th century Carmelite mystic and saint. Her portrayal brings out the warmth, humor, humility, hard-headed common sense and incredible spiritual depth of this amazing woman who is also one of my favorite saints. All the actors are superb, as is the writing, the production values, sets, costumes, direction - everything. For those who think a story about a nun several hundred years ago would be boring, think again. This story has passion, intrigue, suspense - even an evil queen - the Princess of Eboli. But above all it is an amazing story of what God can do with someone who gives herself completely over to His guiding hand. I cannot recommend this film highly enough!

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.

I am only about one-third through watching this film, but I am already blown away with its ability to show the depth of Teresa's love for her Lord. This film has touched me as no other, except maybe "Brother Sun, Sister Moon."

Superlative production. Outstanding acting, writing, and directing. The production design is flawless - watching it is to go back in time to the 16th century and witness the life of St. Teresa unfold (no Hollywood-like sets here). A mature, thoughtful, well-researched, and respectful treatment of this great saint.
Don't be concerned about the English subtitles; they do not detract at all from the enjoyment of this captivating movie. (I ordered this DVD set from Spain when Region 1 (U.S./Canada) was not available yet, and played it on my computer; so delighted it is finally in a format we can see on our TV's in the U.S.).
For those with a devotion to St. Teresa, or for anyone who enjoys the lives of saints, it does not get any better than this.

St. Theresa of Avila should win an award for its acting and keeping it true to the time she was alive. I didn't mind the subtitles at all. It is a beautiful movie, not like what is out there today.

Film is beautifully, meaningfully made and I am greatly enjoying it with my Mother who is a fan and devotee of St. Teresa. The acting is great on location, and the local artists create the sense of authenticity where I can truly think of St. Teresa being approximately the sort of person shown in character and appearance, and in her true setting.

No words to describe it! I watched the series over and over to make sure I did not miss anything - very deep and powerful. St. Teresa of Avila without a doubt is one of the greatest doctors of the Church. A MUST see!

This is truly a master piece that not only shows the life of an extraordinary woman from the 16th century but her extraordinary faith-determination to fulfill God's will in her life and for the whole world. Any person of faith would truly enjoy watching this magnificent production.

Very amazing autobiographical movie about the life of this amazing saint. It takes you through her life from the moment she realized that changing her order in religious life to better their relationship with Christ to her personal demons concerning her beliefs, her fight against pride and others that were jealous of her in the church. It's great for anyone interested in the lives of the Saints. Concha Velasco gives an inspiring performance and it's subtitled unless you speak Spanish.