Teresa de Jesús

"Teresa de Jesús" is a jewel of Spanish cinema, with Concha Velasca playing the role of Teresa of Avila (for this is how most of us know her), mystic and, ultimately, Doctor of the Church. This is no naïve, sweet interpretation of sainthood. The writers and Concha Velasca make us aware of Teresa's struggle to be humble and remain faithful to the church one the one hand, and reform an entire religious order (the Carmelites) taking them back to their primitive rule and thereby launching one of the most effective answers to the Protestant challenge to come out of Spain. Along the way, Saint Teresa of Avila, discovers and launches another saint (and Doctor of the Church), John of the Cross. "Teresa de Jesús" is an 8 hour mini-series, and Concha Velasca's "aging" (she was about the same age as Teresa when she began her reform at the time this was filmed) with the character seems both effortless and natural -- what talent.

Here is a "masterpiece", but you will not see it on American television, which seems to have a parochial view of religious content (unless it is Count Dracula, of course). What a loss. This series is less about religion and more about the spiritual journey. The writers (two women and a man, including the director, Josefina Molina) were able to be sympathetic to the plight of women in Spain in the 16th Century without breaking the spell of age with modern messages. A example of their success is the discussion of the dilemma of women -- marriage, childbirth and higher odds of an early death, or celibacy and, typically, life in a convent.

This reality of women was sharp enough that numbers of Spanish women did choose a convent life, and this invariably led some convents to gravitate to the comfortable life. Teresa of Avila upset this trend, and much of this story is about her struggles with "conventional" Christians (who preferred a self-contained life with some luxuries and who battled her most of her life), her ability to inspire others even in the face of violent opposition, and her adroit handling of superiors. As difficult as the bishops and priests are (everyone has an agenda), the women of nobility raise the biggest fires. Noblewomen were not only patrons of convents, but often had them attached to their grand homes. The film successfully introduces us to their complex personalities: vain or pious, they too have agendas. Some considered convents a good source of female help; moreover, as Teresa's reputation for sanctity spread, some would coerce priests to order Teresa to visit them. It was then fashionable to have a presumed saint in residence.

The writers carefully pace the series. They gradually introduce more elaborate costumes (beautiful and authentic Spanish costume of the period), exotic locations (Medina del Campo for those of you who know it from James Mitchner or Carlos Fuentes) and new characters, and these add to the enjoyment each episode. I would like to mention two women in particular. Mid-series we meet the Princess of Eboli (yes, she really was a beauty and she really did have only one eye), played by Patricia Adriani (pulling it off as one of the youngest of the adult actors in the series). You will not forget the image of this powerful and willful person as she conveys her dead husband to their castle and, she presumes, her future convent. Compared to her, the Inquisition was for Teresa easy. The other woman is Sister Ana, who takes care of Teresa late in her life. Sister Ana is Teresa's, ah, left hand (we who are sinistral notice these things). I enjoyed Sister Ana's subtle maturation, all in the last hours of the series, from someone "not able to write" to the embodiment of all of the saints successes. I do not know for sure who played the role, Silvia Munt I think.

So how did I see this? A friend bought a copy of the series (3 DVDs on the bargain counter) in a Madrid department store. They are PAL format (European standard), but I was able to play them through a laptop (with commonly available DVD software). I S3 videoed and audio jacked it out to an LCD TV. And as an American poet, who also read St. Theresa's autobiography, wrote -- "that is that, is that."

This series formed by eight episodes concerns Saint Teresa de Ávila who founded a lot of convents of the Order of Discalced Carmelitas , being very good played by Concha Velasco and a great plethora of secondaries.The series deals with the creating of convents and her struggling against all odds to reform the Order of Carmelites in XVI century, Spain. Teresa was named a Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI . Along the way she would write several religious works and self-biographic books and would reform the Carmelites order , while seeking God and spiritual peace . His books , which include her autobiography : The life of Teresa de Jesus and her seminal works : The Interior Castle and The way of Perfection are an integral part of Spanish Renaissance as well as Christian mysticism and Christian meditation practices. At the same time his confrontation to the Carmelitas priests and opposition to powerful people as Ana López de Mendoza , Princess Eboli : Patricia Adriani. As it regards her relationships with other nuns : Silvia Munt , Virginia Mataix , Marina Saura, Paloma Cela , Alicia Sanchez and priests as Saint Juan de la Cruz : Emilio Gutiérrez Caba , Father Damian : Tony Isbert , Father Francisco de Borja .After a period of sacrifice and pray in which she embraces a deeper devotion to God and Virgen Maria , she claims to have visions with Jesús , attracting the Inquisition with her biographic writings , all of them in times of Protestant Reform and religious pursue. In the cloister, Teresa suffered greatly from illness , early in her beginnings , as she experienced periods of religious ecstasy through the use of devotional books and prays .Teresa became firmly convinced that Jesús Christ presented himself to her in body form , though invisible , and she equally suffered a brief ascetic ascending.

This is an excellent series , being an inlightful and spectacular portrayal of the greatest religious woman , made in big budget and in which Concha Velasco gives a portentous acting. The series packs a lot of historical remarks , adding important roles of the Spaniard history as San Juan de la Cruz , Francisco De Borja , and Princess of Eboli . It contains an atmospheric and adequate cinematography by Francisco Fraile .Including breathtaking scenarios and great production design by Rafael Palmero. As well as a sensitive and evocative musical score by Jose Nieto.The motion picture was very well directed by Josefina Molina.

Other movies regarding this great figure as historical as religious are the followings : 1962 Teresa de Jesús by Juan de Orduña with Aurora Bautista , Alfredo Mayo , Antonio Duran , José Maria Caffarel , Maria Luz Galicia . Teresa cuerpo de Cristo by Ray Loriga with Paz Vega , Leonor Watling , Geraldine Chaplin , Manuel Moron , Francesc Garrido . Teresa 2015 by Jorge Dorado with Maria Álvarez , Carla Diaz, Terele Pávez , Antonio de la Torre , Aitana Sánchez Girón .

I have shared this mini-series with many friends and hope that even though it was made in 2003, the producers will bring the series out on DVD.

I am familiar with the story of Teresa, but these details showed what a powerful person she was and how much she had to endure from catty religious. Great presentation. Definitely worth viewing.

This film shows Teresa as a powerful woman in that she is focused and able to get things accomplished. She fought a lot against the authorities of the Order to which she belonged and stood up for what was important to her. Her legacy, even if she hadn't been named a Doctor of the Church, would have put her in the prominent history of the Spanish Church.

Saint Teresa of Jesus (Avila) is so beautifully portrayed in this movie, and brings her writings into a brilliant reality. For those who have read her works, you will see her actions lived out along with her spiritual insights. The acting could not be better, it is human and humble. I really enjoyed the true-to-life settings, and language. I am happy to see this series has won awards, and Concha Velasco won my heart over. Her portrayal of this Saint was remarkable due to the ability to convey humility, spiritual depth, holy virtue, love for Jesus Christ, and over the course of time to age in character. The rest of the cast was superb in evoking a love or hate relationship for the viewer because one either will love or hate Saint Teresa of Jesus, and those for or against her strong determination to create the Discalced Carmelite Order that has flourished through-out the world to this day. I highly recommend this to anyone, believer or not. You will be inspired by one woman's courage to follow through, and will never be able to feel self-pity or make excuses you can't do something great with your own life after watching this series.

There really should be more series made for TV just like this one. The world surely needs them.

If only the English subtitles could be reviewed and greatly improved upon, this would be a really excellent series on St Teresa of Avila's Way of Perfection but the translation into English for the subtitles is really awful.