Watch Therese: The Story of Saint Therese of Lisieux For Free

Fantastic!

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

It is tempting to criticize it. and real easy. because each viewer has his perspective about Therese Martin. and , at first sigh, Lindsay Younce is far to be the perfect choice for the lead role. but... . the film has few significant virtues. the first - the atmosphere of Martin family. and the flavour of French XIX century. and, sure, the life of convent. for a not believer, it could seems be too sweet and pink and conventional. for a Greek - Orthodox like me, correct translation on screen of the biography of one of the most loved saints of Romano-Catholic Church. in fact, it is a beautiful portrait. moving hommage. for many reasons. one of them - the performance of Leonardo Defilippis in the role of Louis Martin.

I am a fan of movies about faith, and will confide that faith and spirituality make great themes, although I prefer Roman Catholic subjects. Here is one par excellence, about The Little Flower, Saint Therese, the newest and youngest Doctor of the Church, acclaimed by the late Pope, Blessed John Paul II. I bought this on DVD at a store, influenced by the cover art which was both gorgeous and sophisticated, so, what a fake out to find the film itself so banal and insipid; it was just barely watchable, just endurable enough to determine if it would remain bad and boring through to the end. Yes, it was bad. Not as bad as "One Night with the King" (2006), about Queen Esther saving the Jews, but that was the worst movie of all time. Be warned, many devout people with good intentions vote on this site and run up the points for bad religious films. I know a score of "5" is fair warning, but both of these films got around "5.8" -- not even close to their just deserts, as the Esther film would only rival this Therese as an unintentional parody of a real movie, whereas Therese's panegyric is too boring even for that. Therese deserves a much better movie than this in English. There are two very good French films about her. You may have to wait a few years for one without subtitles, for those of you folks disinclined to read and watch films simultaneously. Btw, is that a sin? Well, maybe not, but making a mind rotting movie about a great saint ought to be!

Last weekend I rented this DVD from Blockbuster. I was excited because recently I made trip to Lisieux, France and rediscovered the beauty of St. Therese there. Her relics and memorial chapel were all beautiful, but it was her sweet presence being so closely felt that touched me. Something clicked deep inside me, and I become fascinated by her life and spirituality ever since. I already had DVD of French movie with same title made in 1986, which I watch with admiration for the director Alain Cavalier and actress Catharine Mouchet. It was such deeply spiritual and artistic gem, made with reverence to the solemn simplicity. So I naturally expected a little different perspective from this 2004 movie. But as I turned on the DVD player, it didn't take too long to get disappointed... as movie was dragging on, the disappointment changed into frustration- and anger. On the DVD case it says the film is being endorsed by Vatican. In terms of culture, when did Catholics become such tasteless creatures? I heard that this Luke film's work was made on donations.. what a waste. 1986's Therese has minimal set design and without any lavish costumes, and virtually no outdoor shootings, but it became a masterpiece. Comparing with it, 'low-budgeted project' cannot be an excuse to justify a less than mediocre movie. I even tried to turn on the french subtitle to desperately search for some kind of genuineness of the story...but it was no use. Actress who played Therese doesn't have any resemblance with Therese and acting was amateurish. It must be the director's fault who failed to capture and convey from the depth of little way of St. Therese. i feel insulted by the film, because I love Therese' life so much and her life was a simple but mysterious union with Jesus in midst of horrendous suffering. Her story should be honored in better work of art, in order to be correctly understood.

I saw this film twice. Both times I laughed and I got tears in my eyes. The movie was good. It wasn't great. I knew going in that Luke Films was a small outfit, so I didn't expect a lot. The acting seemed to get better as the movie progressed. Lindsay Younce did an admirable job for her first starring role. Leonardo De Filippis was, I thought, very good as the father. Jen Nikolaisen who played Celine did a great job as Therese's sister. All in all, the movie probably ranks with such films as "Brother Sun, Sister Moon" and "The Miracle of Marcellino" in the genre of religious movies. Somehow the message of the film overcomes the semi-amateurishness of the film-making.