Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #64553 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-11-30
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 90 minutes

Customer Reviews

This is the first movie that try to tell the story of a
very attractive and talented Creole woman named Henriette Delille, who chose the rigors of convent life over a very comfortable placage with a wealthy white benefactor who could gave her the world if she wants it. She saw the evil in placage and didn't want any part of it because it would be against God's law against living in sin. She seen it firsthand with her parents. Her father wanted out of it so he could marry a white woman in order to have legitimate offspring while her mother slowly goes insane not only of her lover's abandonment but also of her daughter's refusal to follow her footsteps in taking a white lover without being married.

All her life, Henriette deLille devoted her life to helping the poor and enslaved of Louisiana, even going against the authorities to do so. It's not an easy life to live but it's a purposeful one. One that emphasize a life of service and devotion to spiritual matters.

Vanessa L. Williams has done a great job in portraying Henriette Delille.

Courage to Love worth watching
Courage to love provides a fascinating insight to a little known period in Louisiana's history. A period when free women of colour were groomed by their mothers for the sole purpose of finding a rich man to take care of them- though due to Louisiana law, were unable to marry. Venessa Williams gives a good performance as a "gens de colour." I highly recommend.

Very good story!
Since I'm a Creole from New Orleans, I brought this movie because I had heard talks amongst my family about this history.
Vanessa William was an excellent actress in this movie as well as all the other cast members. I really enjoyed this movie because it showed the true relationships between some Creole women and their relationships with French men, in addition, the cause and effects from broken hearts, compassion, and deep love. Also, this movie showed the truth regarding White masters having sex with very young Black girls, and the emotional effects that hurt deep inside of the hearts of the little girl, her father, and the master's wife. Then, there was the interesting story line regarding the history of the first Black nuns and their love, faith, and compassion toward all people of color, and their willingness to fight for what is right. The Pope, priests, nuns, and the white members views regarding Blacks & Creoles sharing the same church, religion, Nun status, and education was interesting to say the least. Lastly, the class lines amongst Americans, French, Creoles, and Blacks, and how with God, faith, beliefs, and hope, all groups can come together.
Good Movie!!!