ma-cortes
Glamorous and luxurious movie with a good cast , such as Paz Vega , Leonor Watling , Eusebio Poncela , Geraldine Chaplin , Manuel Morón , Francesc Garrido , José Luis Gómez , Andrés Gertrúdix and Ángel De Andrés López . Being a thought-provoking drama based on the life of Spain's mystic Saint Teresa , set in the Catholic Castilla , in the middle of the Sixteenth Century . It concerns about Saint Teresa of Jesús , baptized as Teresa Sánchez De Cepeda y Ahumada (28 March 1515 – 4 October 1582) , focusing her sufferings , sacrifices , raptures and set in times of religious pursue , Reform , Contra-Reform and Santo Oficio . Teresa was a prominent Spanish mystic , Roman Catholic saint , Carmelite nun and author during the Counter Reformation , and theologian of contemplative life through mental prayer . Set in Castilla and dealing with the struggles against all odds in foundation her first convent , claiming that she has visions with Jesus , about the hard reform the Order of Carmelites and , subsequently , attracting the attention of the Inquisition during the sixteenth century Spain . As the daughter of a nobleman (Alvaro De Luna) Teresa De Ahumada (Paz Vega) joins a convent administrated by the Superior Mother (Geraldine Chaplin) seeking a spiritual life . After a period of apprenticeship and prays , she becomes a reformer in the Carmelite Order of her time and the movement she initiated , later joined by Saint John of the Cross , eventually led to the establishment of the Discalced Carmelites , though neither she nor John were alive when the two orders separated . The flick also concerns about her relationships to important people as Francisco De Borja (Javier Mejia) , Fray Daza (Eusebio Poncela), Fray Alcántara (José Luis Gómez) and bishop of Toledo (Angel De Andrés López) . Teresa was named a Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI . Her books, which include her autobiography : The Life of Teresa of Jesus and her seminal work The Interior Castle , and The Way of Perfection are an integral part of Spanish Renaissance literature as well as Christian mysticism and Christian meditation practices . At the beginning of the film Teresa , who is the daughter of a nobleman has a socialite life , has suitors who fight for her by fencing . Later on , Teresa fascinated by accounts of the lives of the saints joins a convent administrated by the Superior Mother seeking God and a spiritual as well as peaceful life . As Teresa entered a Carmelite Monastery of the Incarnation in Ávila , 1535 , but she found herself increasingly in disharmony with the spiritual malaise prevailing at the monastery . After a period of prays and sacrifice in which she embraces a deeper devotion to the Virgin Mary as her spiritual mother , she claims that she has visions with Jesus attracting the attention of the Inquisition in times of religious pursue and Protestant Reform . In the cloister -an area where only monastics have access- , she suffered greatly from illness ; early in her sickness, she experienced periods of religious ecstasy through the use of devotional books and prays . Saint Teresa carried out mystic attitudes following the example of similar writings of medieval mystics , consisted of directions for examinations of conscience and for spiritual self-concentration and inner contemplation . She claimed that during her illness she rose from the lowest stage, "recollection", to the "devotions of silence" or even to the ¨Mysticism¨ and "devotions of ecstasy", which was one of perfect union with God . During this final stage, she said she frequently experienced a rich "blessing of tears" . She , then began to inflict various tortures and mortification of the flesh upon herself . But her confessor, the Jesuit Saint Francis Borgia , reassured her of the divine inspiration of her thoughts . Teresa became firmly convinced that Jesus Christ presented himself to her in bodily form , though invisible.A dramatic film based on the life of Spain's feminist mystic Saint Teresa , regarding her self-punishments , lashings , mortification , raptures and about her early days when Santa Teresa schemes the creation a first convent called San José . This Spanish movie turns out to be an acceptable flick , but slow-moving , being a moving portrayal of the greatest religious woman , made in enough budget , including colorful cinematography and sensitive score . This picture contains a lot of historical remarks , adding known characters of the Spain history . The film was panned by critics , suffering the extreme contempt , being really scorned by focusing excessively in erotic/religious visions . It packs a glamorous cinematography by the prestigious cameraman José Luis Alcaine . Luxury scenarios , mostly interiors , including brilliant costumes and spectacular production design by Rafael Palmero , ; in fact, the movie is dedicated in memoriam to this classic designer . Religious and evocative musical score by two great composers : Ángel Illarramendi and Michael Nyman . Directed by Ray Loriga who made a passable but really boring film . Other films regarding this famous Saint are the followings : ¨Teresa De Jesús¨(1962) by Juán De Orduña with Aurora Bautista , José Bódalo , Roberto Camardiel , Antonio Durán , Alfredo Mayo and ¨Teresa¨ (2015) by Jorge Dorado with Marian Alvarez , Carla Diaz , Terele Pavez , Antonio De La Torre , Aitiana Sanchez Gijón . And the best results to be the TV series ¨Teresa De Jesús¨ (1985) by Josefina Molina with Concha Velasco , Virginia Mataix , Silvia Munt , Maria Massip , Magui Mira.
jotix100
The mystic figure of Saint Teresa of Avila, a woman from wealth, who renounced all that life had given her in exchange for one of prayer and writing some of the best works of the so called Golden Age of the Spanish literature, remains an elusive figure after seeing this film.Teresa Sanchez de Cepeda y Ahumada, born in the province of Avila, in 1515. Her paternal grandfather was a Jew, who converted to Catholicism and later was condemned by the Inquisition for going back to the faith in which he was born. Her whole family was connected, in one way, or another, to the Catholic Church. Her time was one of turmoil as the Holy Inquisition was a force to be reckoned with in the Iberian peninsula.When Teresa decided to join a convent, she was seen as one of the different women because of her coming from privilege. Her life went to change dramatically as she started getting visions that involved her close connection with Christ, something that drove her to become deathly sick. In her ecstasies, Teresa imagined Jesus in ways no other nun saw him, something that did not sit well with the mentality of the Spain of the 16th century. With the help of her good friend, Giomar De Ulloa, Teresa went to fund her own convent, a stricter form of the Carmelites. She also wrote extensively and her "Song of Songs" is one of the most treasured pieces in Spanish literature.Ray Loriga, a writer that has worked extensively in Spanish cinema, wrote the basis of this film, as well as directed it. Mr. Loriga is no doubt a man of refined talent. The basic problem with the film seems to lay in the casting of the main role. Paz Vega, a sensual actress, feels as though she is out of place as Teresa. Leonor Watling is seen as her friend Guiomar, who could have been a lesbian, as played by this actress. Geraldine Chaplin, Eusebio Poncela, and the rest of the supporting cast do their best for the director.Rafael Palmero's artistic direction must be mentioned. He is blessed with working in the same places where Teresa lived and worked. Same could be said about the cinematographer, Jose Luis Alcaine, who gives us great views of Avila and interiors that are suffused with the kind of light associated with famous painters like Vermeer, or Georges De La Tour. The music score is credited to Angel Illarramendi and Michael Nyman. What the film lacks in its narrative it makes up in the beautiful images the director incorporated, which does not compensate for the overall feeling of a static movie.In spite of Mr. Loriga's good intentions, Saint Teresa remains an enigma for most of the audience.
Claudio Carvalho
In the middle of the Sixteenth Century, in Castilla, the daughter of a nobleman Teresa de Ahumada (Paz Vegas) joins a convent administrated by the Superior Mother (Geraldine Chaplin) seeking a spiritual life. After a period of prays and sacrifice, she claims that she has visions with Jesus, attracting the attention of the church in times of religious pursue, changes and Inquisition.The story of this Spanish saint is boring and uses the sexuality of Paz Vegas to raise polemic, with her erotic visions of Jesus. The cinematography, costumes and set decoration are great, but I did not like the story of this movie, not because I am religious or bigot, but because it is an unsatisfactory plot developed in an extreme low-pace. My vote is three.Title (Brazil): "Teresa, o Corpo de Cristo" ("Teresa, The Body of Christ")
