MOTHER TERESA

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 5 out of 5

Rated:

My pastor is quite a fan of Mother Teresa. It seems as though he brings her up at least once a month in his sermons, as an example of a woman of faith who gave everything she had and more to the service of God. After hearing so much about her, I decided to do some reading about her and stumbled across this film of several years ago about her work in India. It is well worth a viewing, since it will give you an insight into her world unparalleled by few other sources.

India in the late 1940's is ravaged by strife between the warring Muslims and Hindus, a violent conflict that often comes to a head within the impoverished streets of Calcutta. Mother Teresa (Olivia Hussey) is a member of the local convent and insists on bring a dying man into the protection of the cloister, an action that places her fellow sisters in danger of being accused of favoritism between the two religious fronts. As punishment, she is sent away for a short time and on her journey, discovers what she believes must become her true calling: to minister and serve the poorest of the poor in the streets. This would require her living outside the convent, a monumental feat that her mother superior and the local bishop protest wholeheartedly, but nothing can shake her convictions and Teresa's demands to be heard are taken all the way to the Pope.

In an unheard of decision, he grants Teresa her petition, and she goes to work among the starving children of the city, eventually luring other young novices to her side and founding her own missionary order. Along her life's journey are constant struggles with a disapproving government, hostility from the locals, and scathing reports from the press, along with her own genuine desire to feel close to a God that at times feels distant from her. The result is a two hour film that makes the audience fall in love with her compassionate heart and loving nature, as well as the world around her. It might be dark on occasion, but the nuns are a constant ray of light. 

Many of her personal views and teachings come across but they never feel forced or are under-acknowledged. Everything about this woman is humble and her depicted faith in God is nothing short of staggering, to believe without question even when there is not much food to share and it seems all mortal forces stand against her. I also appreciated the little nuances of the film, such as faces that returned years later to contribute to her growing organization, or open acts of charity from complete strangers. The supporting cast is excellent, made up of mostly unknown Italian actors, but the true gem is Hussey. Her Teresa is both vulnerable and strong, always prepared to speak her mind but full of so much love and generosity that you almost want to step into her world just to be with her. Her accent and appearance are remarkable.

There are no content issues to be found in the film, but instead some rather poignant moments that will move you to tears. Teresa talks about her genuine desire to serve Christ, and how she sees His face in the poor. She stresses that without Jesus, her life is meaningless. She does not push her faith on anyone, but everyone knows about it. On one occasion, a knife is used to threaten her by an angry Muslim. Wounds on the sick and dying are often moderately gruesome. The hostile British press accuses her of trafficking in children. It does move a little slowly in the first ten minutes, but is a fascinating glimpse into the life of a woman revered around the world for her faith.