Mother Teresa

Olivia Hussey is incredible as Mother Teresa. As an agnostic Catholic, I had to separate my personal issues with the One True Church from the intentions of a woman trying to make a difference. Recently, news stories have been published accusing Mother Teresa of being a cult figure. An ex-nun of her order left after twenty years and is a vicious critic of Mother Teresa. The movie does confront the controversies with a corrupt donor and a writer with a cynical outlook, probably based on Christopher Hitchens. Even with the criticisms, e movie is a beautiful portrayal of the future saint.

Making a film about a religious figure is a perilous enterprise, particularly if the person involved is still alive or recently dead, and even more so when she is one of the outstanding personalities of the twentieth century.

Happily this movie has managed to steer very effectively between the opposing dangers of cynicism and over-the-top enthusiasm which are the hallmarks of most religious movies. They have stuck very firmly to the facts, while allowing the personality of Mother Teresa to shine through, effectively revealing her powerful faith, her amazing strength, her heroic charity and self-sacrifice, but also her moments of doubt, weakness and vulnerability.

There are few really great religious movies. This could have been one of them.

The production is superb, the direction and the acting excellent, and Olivia Hussey does a magnificent job in a very difficult role. What spoils it is the structure: a series of excellent parts which do not really make a very coherent whole. The producers have tried to do too much, to include too many incidents, and as a result the storyline is sadly lacking in continuity.

I see from the IMDb notes that the Italian running time is 180 minutes, almost 40% longer than the English language version. Perhaps the problem lies with the editing, and the longer version does a much better job. All I can say is that they should have opted for doing some bits of Mother Teresa's story extremely well rather than attempting the whole thing and botching it.

Marvelous film showcasing the excellent acting talent of Olivia Hussey. Hard to believe that it's over 35 years since her 1968 interpretation of "Romeo and Juliet."

This is an extremely inspiring story of the nun who looked for the most simplicity of life in aiding the impoverished. Her dedication to the suffering of mankind is definitely an inspiration to us all.

Not only does the picture beautifully capture what she must endure working among the impoverished, it also shows the problems that she goes through within the Catholic church, accusations of corruption and trying to accomplish her goals in a society that is not accustomed to handle what she wants done.

Hussey is simply magnificent in the part of this saintly woman. She has her down to every movement of her walking, talking, etc.

Too bad that the film did not bring out that Mother Teresa came from an affluent Albanian family.

A wonderful film of the human spirit.

This film is so fantastic. Olivia's portrayal is outstanding! She plays it in such a real unaffected way, really a masterful performance! The film's two most beautiful characteristics, in my opinion, are that it's not a big-budget Hollywood film. It's simple, straightforward and inspiring: which in my opinion is, the way Mother Teresa would have wanted it. And, even though you think it won't, it has this internal power to make you weep when you look around and see the state of the world, and if there were only more people like this in the world, it would be a much better place. See this film. I guarantee you it will inspire you to be a better person.

Always, for me, her performance was a sort of revelation. as Saint Mary, mother of God. As Juliet. the delicacy to explore the role and give its entire chain of nuances remains admirable. "Mother Teresa" is just another example. for the inspired meeting between delicate precision of acting, a clear, useful message and beautiful cinematography. it is a generous film. and that does it a film for everybody. because it is a film about duty, God and sacrifices. about, in fact, the sense of life. not thesis, not lessons. only a travel across the signs of a world in sufferance and the answer who could be offered day by day. sure, for many people, Mother Teresa is a saint. for others - source of controverses. or cultural icon. the film is not exactly the tool of one of that directions. but only a sensitive testimony about a way to change the world helping the near man and woman near you. and it does that in the admirable manner. Olivia Hussey work is only one of basic motifs for see this beautiful film.