Product Description

Famous as the patron of hopeless situations, St. Rita of Cascia is immortalized in this wonderful, deeply moving film about this beautiful woman who lived in Italy in the 14th century. Starring Vittoria Belvedere and Martin Crewes, this powerful story combines high drama, great love, deep betrayal, senseless tragedy, profound forgiveness and strong faith as it tells the story of this brave and loyal woman who married her knight, helped him overcome his dark past and convert to faith, happily bore him two childern, and later endures immense pain as she loses everything in her life. She finds peace and new hope through generosity of a nearby convent of sisters, and with their help she develops a deep union with Christ that greatly inspires all who near her.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9772 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-02-20
• Formats: Color, Digital Sound, NTSC, Widescreen
• Original language: English, Italian
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 210 minutes

Customer Reviews

THE ITALIANS DO IT RIGHT!
THE ACTING IS SUPERB. THE COSTUMES PUT YOU IN ANOTHER TIME. THE FACIAL EXPRESSIONS OF THE ACTORS MAKE YOU FEEL THEIR EMOTIONS. IT HAS ROMANCE, BETRAYEL, ACTION, SUSPENSE, SORROW AND IN THE END IT LEAVES YOU WITH A SENSE OF THE GOODNESS OF MAN AND INSPIRES YOU TO NEVER GIVE UP NO MATTER HOW BAD THINGS GET. PEOPLE DO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER. IT DOES NOT HAVE NUDITY. IT HAS NO GRATUITOUS VIOLENCE.

Marvelous Portrait of a Saint in the World
When I was growing up in the 1940's, there was a statue of St. Rita in every Catholic church. She was portrayed as a nun, with a wound in her forehead which she had received as a form of the Stigmata. But what enchants me about this brilliant film is that it gives us the life of Rita before she entered the convent. We see a saint in the world of marriage and child rearing, contending with the realities of the quarrelsome and warlike Italian families of her time. We see her struggling to convert and save her husband Paolo, to guide her children away from the code of honor that required of them a vendetta after the death of their father. We see her moving through the streets of her town as the plague rages, as people cry for bread, or for help in their illnesses and misery. Of course we go on to see her enter the religious life, and receive the wound for which we so well know her. But the scope of the tale, and the depth of Rita's accomplishments are what give the film its power. Production values are excellent; the actress is wondrously convincing and compelling; the script is good. I recommend seeing it with English subtitles and listening to the Italian voices that give it a greater feel of authenticity. Ignatius Press is to be commended for bringing us this powerful and unforgettable film. It is absorbing throughout, with excellent sets and costumes, and exteriors. It is beautiful. It is also a wonderful gift for Catholics who grew up loving St. Rita as I did.

Subtitled in Spanish!!!
Excellent movie based on the true story of St. Rita, who stood by her Faith in a very difficult time. Subtitles available in English and Spanish.