Thérèse: The Story of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux

When I first started watching this movie I was a little disappointed at the extremely pious tone. I had read "Story of a Soul" years ago and loved the book but had not studied much about St. Therese in several years. The more I watched it, however, it really moved me in profound way so that at the end I was weeping uncontrollably. I showed it to my husband and children (daughters 6 and 9) and they loved it. I have now seen it several times and I see something new in each viewing. It is a movie that has a very very spiritual message, and if you're not in tune with spiritual messages at this stage in your life, you will not be touched. (A Catholic upbringing will certainly help the film resonate with the viewer.)If you are open to having a movie bring you closer to Jesus, this film will do it.

Watch this movie if you are already interested in the life of St. Therese of Lisieux and are curious to see a representation of it on film. There is no pretense of cinematic excellence here. The movie is not entertainment in the true sense. It's almost like a page of the famous compendium "Lives of the Saints" come to life on screen.

Moreover, the story of St. Therese may already be a bit distant to 21st century viewers, though she is a modern saint. St. Therese represents turn of the 20th century piety and devotion that probably seems quite strange to many of us today. The story would probably be most strange to non-catholics, still a bit foreign to less pietistic catholics, but probably closer to home to catholics who practice devotions such as to the Sacred Heart or the Child Jesus.

I had always associated St. Therese with a sort of saccharine sweet piety, but watching this film showed a different side and made me admire her deep humility, a virtue that is truly strange to us now.

When I signed up to promote this film I had ambitions of great things, but God showed me the hope of the little way.

I agree with critical comments about the film being film-schoolish. Many folks on the Luke Films team have a theater--not film background. However, Lindsay Younce was EXCELLENT in her simple beauty. In fact the simplicity and ameteur nature of the film reflects the simple child-like love of its namesake.

I love this movie. Thank you to Leo and Lindsay and St. Luke's!

The story of this little film is the story of the Little Way. For the past 5 years people all over the country/world have DONATED their time and money and sweat to finance, produce and market this wonderful story.

Here in Dallas three secular movies where moved to add 3 extra auditoriums to show Therese and more than two auditoriums were filled all through opening weekend.

The Passion had fame and wealth (God bless Mel for this gift) behind it, but Therese proves that a little film about the Little Way, can spread LOVE very far through the efforts of so many people.

The relative success of Therese shows us what Christian people (and dedicated folks in general) can achieve together in faith, prayer and hard work.

I'm trying to be witty with my title, a double-entendre referring to an audience's "disbelief" in fantastical events, as well as "disbelief" of a person without faith who is trying to understand events through the eyes of the believers.

On both counts I'm sorry to say "Thérèse" failed with me. As much as I wanted to, I could not slip into believing these characters were anything more than actors, and I could not slip into believing that there was any great truth about faith & spirituality to be conveyed here.

This film is very smooth and polished, much like a Hallmark Channel movie of the week, where everything seems to be straight out of a Filmmaking 101 textbook. From 1985. Everything is so syrupy sweet that, unless you are already primed & into the moment before the film starts, you may find yourself anxiously looking around, wondering if this is some elaborate joke. I'm not kidding: if someone were to dub a laugh track, this would make a funny satire. The script is so corny, and everything is just too perfect to be believable as part of our real world.

In no way do I mean this to be a crack at the filmmakers' talents. I'm just saying that this film exists in a bubble of its own. Its beauty is privy to those who live inside the bubble. In that respect, its a lot like a nostalgic old song which only you can appreciate because it has inherent meaning to you (a summer at the beach, a first kiss, etc). But to those outside your nostalgic bubble, the song is just silly... and it probably is.

I went to this thinking it was going to be an epic in the lines of "Gandhi."

Had I known it was going to be a home movie that looked like it was shot on a video camera, and acted by the Junior High School Drama Club, I probably would have passed. I realize this is an "independent" film, and the story of St. Therese is certainly one worth telling, but it could have been told a whole lot better than this. It was poorly acted, poorly written, poorly directed, and poorly produced. It was more like a made for TV special than a motion picture feature.

This film has been done before, and with much higher quality. Anyone that wants to see this story told should check out the 1986 version of the same tale.