Decrees of canonization: Mother Teresa of Calcutta will become a saint on September 4Mother Teresa of Calcutta, a saint for our timeOn the occasion of the International Day of Charity and the commemoration at the Church of St. Teresa of Calcutta, the premiere of the film "Mother Theresa and Me," written and directed by Kamal Musele and produced by Zariya Foundation, starring Banita Sandgu as Kavita, Jacqueline Fritschi-Cornaz as Mother Teresa, and Deepti Naval as Deepali, was held in New York on September 5. During its premiere at the International Catholic Festival of Cinema The film was awarded the "Best Film Award" at the 2022 Rome Film Festival.
The film tells the story of two women who experienced existential doubts at different times in their lives; nevertheless, they persisted in their faith and did not abandon their vocation as mothers in different contexts. They are Kavita, a young British woman of Indian origin, and Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The former is a young woman living in London with her parents, who want her to marry according to Indian traditions. However, Kavita experiences a disappointment in love and is faced with an unexpected pregnancy that leads her to consider abortion. In search of solace, Kavita goes to the village of Deepali, the nanny who took care of her in her early years.
In the film, Deepali narrates that, as a child, she herself was adopted by Mother Teresa of Calcutta. In this context, the film narrates the beginnings of Mother Teresa's missionary work in the slums of Calcutta. After founding her community of the Missionaries of Charity, there comes a time when Teresa no longer hears the voice of Jesus and feels abandoned. Nevertheless, she continued with her vocation in the midst of darkness, ministering to the poor. In time she discovered that her dedication to God was total and meant a call to participate in a very marked way in the passion of Christ and his cross. Mother Teresa's story inspires Kavita in the decisions she will have to make, which will leave a mark on her life.
Production
Regarding its production, the creators of the film point out that recreating the atmosphere of the 1950s in Calcutta was a challenge, as they had to look for extras who had the features of those who lived through the famine in those years. Also, for the scenes they had to recreate replicas of the impoverished neighborhoods and the House of the Dying called "Nirmal Driday".
The music was composed by two composers and two violinists whose instrumentation helps to emphasize the crucial themes faced by the two protagonists: love, abandonment, total surrender, abortion (life or death), compassion, faith, perseverance and vocation.
The premiere
Although the film premiered in New York on September 5, it will be shown in 800 theaters in various U.S. cities on October 5. After its national release, it will also be available on various platforms. The Portuguese version of the film will be presented in Brazil in September and will be released in India on October 14.
The funds raised will go to five charities dedicated to the health and education of children and disadvantaged people.
Previews of the film can be seen at HERE.
