Entre ciel et terre

The doctrine of the purgatory is controversial by religion. Taught by Catholic church, but denied by protestant doctrines.

The movie presents the visions of mystic saints like Faustina Kowalska and st Padre PIO along with theologian explanations of this doctrine and visions. This is a very appropriate movie for a Catholic who wants to learn more about the doctrine of the purgatory.

If these people are explaining the basis for the Roman Catholic teaching of the mythical Purgatory, then the Roman Catholic Church has based on a heresy on foolish "evidence" and information. I listened, with an open mind, trying to understand if there was something Biblical that I missed for the understanding of Purgatory and all I found were heretics and frauds trying to explain a non-biblical dogma with fools advice. REALLY?!?! There must be something more to this Purgatory heresy. Or, can it be true that Purgatory is a complete made-up heresy that offends the teachings of Christ?

This is a docudrama that looks at the afterlife of humans. It's based on Scripture, and on the writings and experiences of saints and mystics who had visions of purgatory and hell. The film was made in Poland, and the cast are mostly of that country. It includes background of some visionary saints such as Joan of Arc, John Vianney, John Bosco, and Teresa of Lisieux.

A central character is Polish author and mystic, Fulla (Stanfia) Horak (1909-1993). She was an atheist as a young adult, but then had a major conversion and began having apparitions. The holy ones whom she had learned about taught and showed her visions of life after death. She was most moved by visions of purgatory and terrified by visions of hell.

After her conversion, Horak served in the Polish underground during WW II. She took food and medicine to prisoners and delivered messages. When Poland was forced into the USSR at the end of the war, Horak was arrested by the Soviets. She spent many years in the gulags. But she wrote of her mystical experiences, and these were first published in the underground during the war.

The film also includes scenes with still photos and film clips of two 20th century saints who had received visions of the suffering of purgatory and hell. These were about St. Faustina Kowalska of Poland (1905-1938) and St. (Padre) Pio of Pietrelcina, Italy (1887-1968).

Faustina is known as the saint of the Divine Mercy. She had visions of Jesus Christ as the Divine Mercy of God, and was told to spread devotion and prayers for Divine Mercy. Padre Pio, as a young priest, received the stigmata - the wounds of Christ's crucifixion, in his hands. They were bandaged for the rest of his life. He lived most of his life in the monastery of San Giovanni Rotondo in the mountains of south-central Italy. He also founded a major hospital nearby in 1956 for research and treatment of diseases and illnesses.

The purpose and message of this movie was to educate and convince people of the reality of an afterlife. And the fate that awaits those who choose the light of life or the darkness of death.

I'm a sucker for a good documentary (keyword "good"). I saw the trailer for this film and was uncertain whether it was a movie or a documentary. It turns out, it was a documentary with several cinematic scenes placed within. This was a great way to bring the audience in before explaining the beliefs, doctrines, and details about the place between Heaven and Hell.

Is Purgatory a place of torment? A place of salvation? A state of being? Something to be avoided? Something to be thankful for? The film explains all of these ideas and giving you the decision to come to your own answers.

The cinematic scenes of the agnostic lady opening herself to the ideas of life beyond and being visited by figures from Purgatory was perhaps the most intriguing aspect for me. Throughout the documentary I was hoping for more coverage of this character's life, but I was thankful with what it did show. There were also scenes of seemingly unrelated characters, events, and storylines, etc. Nevertheless, this film left me feeling hopeful, and the very end of it had perhaps the most beautifully filmed one-take of a documentary I have ever seen. Highly recommended.