Therese (2005)

Cast: Lindsay Younce (Therese Martin), Leonardo DeFilippis (Louis Martin), Jen Nikolaisen (Celine Martin)

Director: Leonardo DeFilippis

Genre: Biography/ Drama/ Religious



Just because a movie about a saint should be made with respect and accuracy, doesn’t mean it has to be sappy. Movies about saints have been done before (i.e. Joan of Arc, Becket, A Man for All Seasons) and they were anything but sappy. Even The Ten Commandments wasn’t flaky! It was a little over dramatic, but what 60’s Bible flick wasn’t a little over dramatic. Why do a lot of Catholics think they need to make saint stories, or any kind of religious story, mushy with sentimental nonsense. Just because the life story of St. Therese of Lisieux is full of emotional events, doesn’t mean that DeFilippis needed to over exaggerate them to the point of writing such simple dialogue and irritating corniness. Based on the autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux, The Story of a Soul, this movie accurately depicts the life of Therese Martin, from the death of her mother through her life in a Carmelite convent. Young Therese Martin struggled through her childhood to become a “little flower in the garden of God”. She realized that this would involve detachment from herself and more of a concern for others. Once she realized this calling, she wanted to follow her sisters by entering Carmel and living completely for Our Lord. Being 15 years old, she needed the Bishop’s permission to enter. Not satisfied with the Bishop’s refusal, her desire was strong enough that it led her to Rome where she was privileged to have an audience with Pope Leo XIII. Despite proper protocol, she asked the Pope for the permission her bishop failed to give. She learned truly valuable lessons in accomplishing God’s holy will and practicing true charity. The film, just like the Saint’s life and her writings, centers on her true love for God. It depicts well her efforts toward complete selflessness in order to belong entirely to Our Lord. A movie like this is a breath of fresh air in such a supposedly “reasonable” society. Particularly, it’s refreshing to see a film that portrays women (or a woman) in a true, feminine manner- acting the way God has made and intended for women to act. In other words, it totally contradicts the accursed ideas of modern feminism- a concept that destroys women and their femininity. Yet the film was way too sappy and overly emotional. This film seemed to depict St. Therese’s love for God in a more unrealistic, sentimental way rather than in the more straight forward way. At times it seemed that it needed was Bing Crosby singing some dopey song. The casting was all right. The acting was lousy. There was too much over emphasis on specific emotions. The dialogue was really simple and unbelievable. It made the film more of a children’s movie than a biographical depiction. Leonardo DeFilippis, the director, was the worst in his role as Louis Martin, Therese’s father. Ridiculous isn’t a good enough word to describe his acting. He may have had good intentions in making this movie and God bless him for it, but there was plenty of room for improvement. This movie had potential but it’s too-idealistic nature got in the way. Sure, it showed how Therese Martin had to deal with crosses in her life, but that didn’t make up for the fluff. Readers can certainly identify themselves with St. Therese after reading her book. Unless someone in the audience is so sentimental, that they forgot what the ground feels like under their feet, it’s hard relate to the Saint in this movie. All in all, the story line was well done, as was the accuracy in depicting St. Therese’s life. The acting, the dialogue, and the quality of the portrayals were in severe need of adjustments. It makes a good family movie and is obviously suitable for everyone.