Sant'Antonio di Padova

"The preacher must by word and example, be a sun to those to whom he preaches. You are, says the Lord, the light of the world. Our light must warm the hearts of the people." (Saint Anthony of Padua)

Sailors never know where the peaceful destination exists. Yet, there is, somehow, room for such idyllic existence in their minds. They strive for it in spite of storms that lead them to the places they would never have predicted to set foot in. Similarly, we head for some haven in our lives doing our best to avoid one thing primarily: hardship; yet, we never know where the torments lead us, what lesson they teach us, what inevitable good they do to us. This biopic shows clearly that it was also the case with saint people, those who have won their lives no matter if they saw their old age or died in their youth.

Heading for home? The sea does complicate this plan. A shipwreck on the coast of Sicily in the early 1220s is where a unique story depicted in this movie begins… But before I review the movie, let me outline some basic historical/biographical facts.

In spite of some differences in their approach of evangelizing, two great saints of the 13th century really have played a tremendous role in the medieval Church - saint Francis (1181-1226), referred to as 'Il Poverello di Assisi' and saint Anthony of Padua (1195-1231), referred to as 'Il Santo di Padova' There was something special about them – they challenged medieval times to a new form of spreading Good News – they noticed and loved the poorest. They both experienced considerable inner torments, they both proved great creativity in the missionary ventures, they both showed intense faithfulness to the hierarchical church, they both came from rich and ambitious families, they both experienced profound mysticism and died early, too early. And those medieval personalities perfectly addressed our times touched by growing respect for nature: they preached God's love to creatures. While il Poverello is known to have preached to the birds, il Santo preached to the fish.

However, a considerable difference lies in their popularity in the new medium that cinema is. While you can name several films about saint Francis that take different approaches and place their main focus on different aspects, there are not many movies about saint Anthony. This TV production, though influenced by serious simplicities, is a highly acceptable example of 'spiritually valuable films.' Made in the style of many modern religious film, it seems to be a predictable product of low budget TV productions and yet, it leaves you quite surprised. I was uplifted by the film along with other people at our spiritual meeting recently.

With running time of the typical feature films, Umberto Marino's production offers an interesting, though condensed glimpse of the live of il Santo. Its wonderful artistic merits, including picturesque locations adapted to the movie's needs and the music score by Mons. Marco Frisina, supply a viewer with lots of great touches. Moreover, you get to know the facts from the saint's life, and many of them rely on solid sources of biographers, and, at the same time, you have some fictitious characters that nicely serve as a clever conceit to frame the plot. This all relies on one major theme that affects the short but fruitful life of the saint: a way to sainthood is a way through suffering combined with growing confidence.

Brother Anthony, a former Augustinian religious Ferdinand Boullion born of a Portuguese Bulhões dynasty, is a very learned man, which is accurate historically (for example, there is a mention of his studies of Latin and theology at Coimbra). But he is no hero from the start, he experiences torments and growth, we are shown many scenes when he whips himself severely (a popular medieval practice of penance). He makes hard decisions, sometimes quite vague decisions which could be perceived by the materialistic world as 'insane.' He leaves his family in order to do what God wants of him. He leaves his beloved Teresa (Vittoria Puccini), in order to find love of his inner life (consider the emotionally displayed scene of their farewell and later temptations). He cannot rely solely on his own skills and possibilities but places his confidence in a supernatural existence of God. Something very concrete and common about a person growing up spiritually.

Daniele Liotti is a good choice for the protagonist. He nicely brings out the saint's youthfulness combined with spiritual torments along with learned background with spiritual simplicity he finds among Franciscan friars. Enrico Brignano, as his lifelong companion Giulietto, constitutes a word of reason within the ridiculous whispers of temptations.

Lots of biographical moments make for the movie's good reputation. Let me note a lovely sermon whilst the ordination of priests at Forli, the Franciscan martyrs in Morocco who led Fernando to a turning point, the meetings with saint Francis of Assisi, the encounter with heretics and the defense of the Church at Rimini; the attempt of his enemies to poison him as a danger to their policies. It is known from the biographies that Francis and Anthony met and the words that Francis addressed to a great theologian remarkable in the young Portuguese knight of the Lord: "It is my desire that you teach theology to the brothers, but not at the cost of prayer and devotion." A minor point of criticism is with the fact the film should have depicted the mystical experience with Child Jesus the saint is portrayed with all around the world.

A helpful biopic, definitely a must see for the viewers keen on movies rich in spiritual message.

Saint Anthony was canonized 18 months after his death and he is considered as one of the greatest saints of the Catholic Church, a real patron on the ways of seeking and finding...

I often was enchanted for those Saints of the Catholic Church in my tender age, as I was raised for my maternal grandparents in a small village a I had in touch with my angel already widow paternal grandmother, she used to tell me many Saint's stories, I' had sit down on a chair nearest her meanwhile she lying in the bed for a broken hip, there she told with smallest details the story of Saint Anthony, which is portrait in this picture, Saint Francis and Saint Anthony were contemporaries on Italy on the 13th century, both were quite opposite who was more intellectual deeply entrenched with clerical precepts, Anthony came from Portugal, was born Fernand ,after a duel with his closest cousin for a lady's love he wounds lethally him, then he makes a promise for God, if his cousin survives he will be engage to serve God in exchange of his cousin's life, he headed for a Monastery at Portugal, soon he realizes that the order was defiled, so he leaves the order and meet the Franciscans nearby at Castel's ruins, there he meets his most faithful follower servant, the witty Giuletto, soon they leave the country to preach the Christianism at Africa to Muslins, the Galleon wrecks at Sicily, they stay for while and decided join with Franciscans at Assisi, Giuletto introduces him to Saint Francis, the chemistry of both wasn't enough they keep together, they split, Saint Francis remains at Assisi meanwhile Saint Anthony established at Padua, where made many strong efforts to set free men in jail for don't pay borrowed money at high fees from loan shark, obliging their wives who could paying the debts with sexual favors, Anthony also was poisoned by a soup gave by loan shark, eerely surviving somehow, many self-called miracles came up in follow years, moreover there many hidden happenings on the movie due short time, fantastic picture displaying one of the most important Jesus's apostle on Earth!!

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First watch: 2015 / How many: 2 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.5

essence of a life. poetry of sainthood. discover of world, by a nobleman, like huge delicate miracle. a touching movie about harsh fight. and price of victory like a map from crumbs.it is one of most interesting roles for Daniele Liotti. but, in same time, a beautiful tale about a popular saint as fire of oil lamp. mystery and sacrifice as ingredients of one bread. suffering and love, foolish option for rude life style, craziness to become pray and perpetual pray. and love as axis of a very long way. that is all. the fundamental aspect - measure. not a religion lesson, not a manifesto, not a powerful demonstration, not study about Truth. only a picture of a Portuguese searcher of Christ. nothing more. not a massive work. only sketch of happiness without explanation. from a far age a poor man who gives sense to every day realities. and who reveals the root of hope.

a film about one of the most popular Romano-Catholic saints is a risky work. because each has his own image about him. because it is difficult to present each aspect of his mission. or, less, the essence of his life. because the relation with a saint remains a fact of faith. but this film has the virtue to give a realistic, touching, powerful portrait of Sant Antonio. like a sketch about simplicity of profound faith and generous love for God and people. as right recreation of the atmosphere. using the remarkable science of Daniele Liotti to discover the sainthood as ordinary trait of a perpetual sacrifice. a religious film, off course. but not ordinary one. for its force of image. and for its delicate poetry.because it is only a sketch who preserves the image of the Church and the image of each from us about one of the most popular saint from the West.