Thérèse (2004)

Thérèse: The Story of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux is a family film about St. Therese who, as a child, longed to be nun and to serve Jesus to the point that she actually went to the Pope and asked for special permission. After some time she was able to enter the convent at 15 years old. She learned to focus on being saintly in little things, helping others, being positive to those who were mean to her, etc. Her positive faithful acts eventually touched all of those with which she came in contact. She ended up dying at an early age due to tuberculosis and was later made a saint.

Unfortunately, the film itself is rather forgettable. The directing is novice at times and the film moves at a snails pace with little insight into her life. Sure, we watch her mother die and her older siblings leave the house as they grow older, but what the film does not capture very well at all is the magic that made this special girl a saint. Being nice to a mean nun makes you a saint? Helping an older nun walk to dinner makes you a saint? Surely she did more than this. From watching this film, we will never know.

The film was good for the kids to watch as it shows how strong faith can lead to a great religious life, but the filmmakers missed the mark badly on creating a memorable tribute to a beloved and adored saint.