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SAN ANTONIO • San Antonio fans of “The Little Flower” packed the premiere of Thérèse, the first full-length, English-speaking film on the life of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, at its Texas premiere here on Sept. 29. The premiere marked the culmination of a massive petition drive by the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower to bring this major motion picture on the life of their namesake to town, with San Antonio being second only to New York City in the fierce competition to win the national premiere, which the “Big Apple” hosted on the same evening as San Antonio’s event.
Featured simultaneously on two screens at the Regal Fiesta Cinema, the audience for the premiere followed a trail of rose petals into the theatre. Photos and artwork featuring St. Thérèse were displayed on easels, with a statue of the saint gracing a table, surrounded by rose petals and stacks of holy cards bearing her likeness. A large replica of the basilica’s façade stood nearby.
Inside the first screening room, reserved for special donors to the basilica’s restoration campaign, a buffet meal was served directly beneath the movie screen, while a musical duo composed of Chris Alonso and Isaac Lopez offered pre-show entertainment and suited ushers escorted attendees to their seats. The second screening room was abuzz with 400 students and staff of Little Flower School, along with their family members and friends.
So many additional movie goers showed up hoping to see Thérèse, that the event took on the air of a packed Sunday Mass, with ushers expertly signaling a “found” seat or two to the growing crowd, and a number having to wait for one of the later showings. (The film continues its run at both the Fiesta and Live Oak Regal Cinemas.)
Produced by Luke Films as a lush period piece, Thérèse follows the inspiring life of Thérèse Martin, beginning with her childhood in 19th century France and ending with her death from tuberculosis at the age of 24 as a Carmelite nun. Based on her autobiography, Story of a Soul, the film brings to life the spiritual journey of this amazing young woman, whose keen yet simple insights on reaching God — known as “the little way” — have made her the most popular saint of modern times and caused her to be proclaimed a doctor of the church.
Life is rosy for little Thérèse Martin, growing up the youngest of five sisters in a loving, devout (and well-off) Catholic family in Alencon. A shadow soon falls across this idyllic life, however, with the death of Thérèse’s mother. Her father, Louis Martin (played by the film’s director, Leonardo Defilippis), is forced to raise his daughters alone, with the young Thérèse being taken under the wing of older sister Pauline, whom she comes to call “mama.” Thérèse again feels abandoned when Pauline enters the convent several years later.
From an unhappy encounter with jealous classmates to her Christmas Eve epiphany on the true meaning of love, we watch the budding saint blossom into spiritual maturity beyond her years. Her determined efforts to enter the Carmelite convent at the unheard of age of 15 finally meet with success, leading to a new and challenging life in the cloister. Here, housekeeping tasks must be learned and sacrifices made, but time is allowed for the young nun to entertain her fellow Carmelites with a costumed dramatization of Joan of Arc.
Too soon Thérèse is wracked with the painful disease which eventually claims her life and puts her humble faith to the ultimate test, that “dark night of the soul,” over which she will triumph, leaving behind her promise to spend her heaven doing good upon earth and showering us with the “roses” of God’s blessings.
Following the premiere showing, Father John M. Suenram, pastor/superior at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower, briefly addressed the audience on St. Thérèse, the film they had just seen and the history of the basilica, which was constructed in St. Thérèse’s honor in 1931 with donations from around the world. A film short on the basilica followed, referring to it as “a monument to the talents and gifts of God’s people.” Known for its exquisite architectural elements and uplifting beauty, the aging basilica has been in need of major renovations for some time and is in the midst of a restoration project. Repairs to the roof and exterior have been completed and a major donation is preparing to transform the undercroft into the St. Elias Chapel and Conference Center, with later work to include repairs to the interior and updating of the adjoining monastery.
All is dependent upon raising sufficient funds, but one can’t help but feel that “The Little Flower” is watching out for her basilica, since funds raised by the premiere tickets for Thérèse will go towards its restoration. |