Faustina

*****What a beautiful movie about Saint Faustina, one to be viewed again and again. This movie captures the holiness of time and place--it is a contemplative and spiritual movie for those who want to be inspired by Saint Faustina's life. It's not a documentary-style or comprehensive biography of her life, but rather an inspirational movie, filmed with stunning scenery. I don't think you'd have to be Catholic to enjoy it, although I think you'd enjoy it more, and of course it has Catholic themes. I knew nothing whatsoever about Sister Faustina before the movie and it made me want to read and learn more, and especially to read her famous diary.The movie helped me to understand how her diary came about, her illness, how holy she was, and most of all the story of the vision of Jesus she saw and the portrait of the Merciful Jesus. I found the entire movie charming and compelling, with delicious music. Watching it was calming, pastoral, peaceful.A vitally important thing you need to know about this movie is that it is in the Polish language with English and Spanish subtitles. I normally strongly dislike subtitles and find them annoying, but in this case, the combination of actors speaking Polish and the subtitles were enchanting, giving the movie such an authentic feel! The subtitles are not available in the menu of the DVD however, as is usual; instead, you will need to find them on your remote. I searched in vain for a long time before checking the reviews and finding a helpful reviewer who said to go to the actual movie (not the DVD menu, but the movie itself, start to play it, and while playing it, press the DVD remote control "Subtitles" button. Your subtitles will begin! My remote did not even HAVE a subtitles button, but I just tried each button (buttons that had various other labels, including the numbers buttons, as I remembered they were somehow linked to macros) until I found the correct one. What joy then I felt as I was able to understand what they actors were saying in this gorgeously filmed movie!The movie is 1:13 long. Special features include subtitles for both English and Spanish (note special accessing method above), several historical photos, a few brief paragraphs of a written biography of Saint Faustina, some credits, and a 23 minute documentary about what her city--Vilnius in Poland--looks like today. And a bit about her order, the Faustynki Sisters--the Congregation of the Holy Faith.It was a pricey movie, and a lot of trouble for me to get those subtitles going. However, it was worth what I went through because I will treasure it and watch it again and again.Highly recommended.*****

The Faustina DVD does have English subtitles, it's just not the usual way of getting to them. Use your DVD remote control that has "Subtitles" button. Press the button WHILE playing the movie (not the DVD menu but the actual movie) and you will get the subtitles.The movie is informative, but not as engaging as the book - few are, I know. I originally posted a disgruntled review because I was unable to find the subtitles, but the seller got back to me, explaining how to view the DVD with subtitles, which I greatly appreciated!

Note: Polish with English subtitles.Sister Maria Faustina (born Helena Kowalska in Glogowiec, Poland on August 25, 1905) was canonized on April 30, 2000 by Pope John Paul II thus becoming the first Catholic saint of the 21st century. This all Polish production was released in '95, five years before Sister Faustina's canonization and was most certainly intent on helping promote the good sisters' Papal consideration for sainthood.However having said that, please don't shy away from seeing this film thinking it was meant to be nothing more than a proselytizing vehicle for Catholicism. Personally I found 'Faustina' to be a very honest, historical presentation that was never overly dramatic or preachy in any way. The screenplay, based on her diary, conveys a simple, straightforward look at her life making this a film that could be enjoyed by everyone no matter what religious, or non religious persuasion you may adhere to.Director Jerzy Lukaszewicz and the all Polish cast did a fabulous job of recreating the time, place and events in the life of Sister Faustina. I also need to mention the charming and demure Dorota Segda who was wonderful in the lead role, capturing both the inner and outer beauty of this deeply mystical and devoted servant of God.Saint Faustina died in 1938 after a long and painful battle with tuberculosis. Fortunately an amazing record of her life remains with us in the form of her diary covering four years of her life. It contains her mystical and revelatory experiences along with her personal insights and prayers and is over 600 pages in length. She was also granted permission by the Church to commission a painting which is now known the world over as the "Divine Mercy."

I thought Dorota Segda, while not looking much like St. Faustina in my opinion, portrayed her meek presence very well. This is one of the best biographic movies on the life of a saint that I've ever seen, and captures a lot of the struggle and misery that she went through in her submission to God's Will... at least as much as is possible in a short movie. While the overt drama was interesting, what captured my attention the most was the focus on St. Faustina's interior life, her spiritual progression, charity and hardships. These are things often overlooked or glossed over. Overall, it touches on all the major elements (the drama, the interior struggles, the visions) an introduction to St. Faustina must have in my opinion.I highly recommend reading the Diary of St. Faustina in addition to watching this movie. There is much more drama and powerfully inspiring moments which were left out of the movie, and a spiritual progression which will be of invaluable inspiration to Catholics really serious about deepening their relationship with God. The Diary itself has led me to writings of St. John of the Cross and St. Theresa of Avila, two more great saints who have helped me appreciate St. Faustina even more.