Faith in Film: Europe ’51
Not Rated
Run Time: 109 min.
February 26, 2023 at 6pm
Clive
Starring: Ingrid Bergman, Alexander Knox, Ettore Giannini, Giulietta Masina, Teresa Pellati
Director: Roberto Rossellini
Screenplay: Roberto Rossellini, Sandro De Feo, Mario Pannunzio, Ivo Perilli, Brunello Rondi
Join the Rev. John Zahl (St. Matthew’s, Bedford), for a “Lenten Film Series: Faith in Film” on Sunday nights, Feb 26 – March 26th, featuring an edifying and thought-provoking selection of special movies, exploring themes of conversion, humility, forgiveness, faith in the midst of suffering, and grace. Includes a brief introduction by Rev. Zahl followed by a short discussion afterwards for those who care to stick around. All are welcome!
Ingrid Bergman plays a wealthy, self-absorbed Rome socialite racked by guilt over the shocking death of her young son. As a way of dealing with her grief and finding meaning in her life, she decides to devote her time and money to the city’s poor and sick. Her newfound, single-minded activism leads to conflicts with her husband and questions about her sanity. The intense, often overlooked Europe ’51 was, according to Rossellini, a retelling of his own The Flowers of St. Francis from a female perspective. This unabashedly political but sensitively conducted investigation of modern sainthood was the director’s favorite of his films.
“… an exemplary lesson in movie-making.”
– Richard Brody, The New Yorker
