Lent Flicks
Here we are once again entering that joyous, yet repentant, season of Lent, where sacrifice and spiritual reflection abound and where we can fill our hearts and minds with reminders of our faith.
For the movie lovers among us, there are a number of films that focus on the Catholic faithful—men and women called by God for a greater purpose. Some of these courageous tales even tie into one of Catholicism's greatest per capita American cities—New Orleans, Louisiana. From the French Quarter to New Orleans East, as well as Antebellum Louisiana to the present day, here are five films to check out while you are fasting. You just might want to hold the popcorn and soda.
Passing Glory (1999)
In the mood for a feel-good sports drama? This made for TNT original film tells of the true story of Father Joseph Verrett (Andre Braugher), a Black history teacher who is persuaded by parish leader Father Grant (Rip Torn) into coaching the Saint Augustine Purple Knights in civil rights-era New Orleans. As he instills within them the true meaning of teamwork, will he be able to deliver on his promise for them to play against the all-white Jesuit High School Blue Jays? It may be quite the uphill battle as local sportswriter Chick Viola (a Black man passing for white) refuses to even cover St. Aug in his newspaper. With only one shot at glory, Verrett and his team must devise a plan to prove they are even better than their white rivals. From director Steve James (Hoop Dreams, Life Itself), as well as co-starring Bill Nunn (Do the Right Thing) and screen legend Ruby Dee, watch this inspiring story for a small rental fee on Prime Video.
The Courage to Love (2000)
Biracial Creole woman Henriette Delille (Vanessa Williams) must choose between life as a kept woman, not unlike her mother Pouponne (Diahann Carroll), or a nagging desire to care for the sick and desperate in pre-Civil War New Orleans. Situations blur when she meets and falls in love with Dr. Gerard Gautier (Gil Bellows). However, she just can't turn off the echoes of a higher calling—one that would culminate in the beginning of an order of African American nuns known as the Sisters of the Holy Family and becoming Catholicism's first Black female saint. Stacy Keach co-stars as Henriette's mostly absent father. The scenes of the community coming together to build a new church where Blacks and whites can worship together evokes shades of the 1963 classic Lilies of the Field, which this writer highly recommends. This biographical period piece is available to stream for free on Prime Video.
Mary, Queen of Vietnam (2021)
In 1975, the country of South Vietnam ceased to exist. Over 1 million refugees from the bloody conflict between North and South Vietnam made their way to the United States of America. To place this journey into perspective, nearly 200,000 individuals escaping the communist rule of North Vietnam ended up drowning in the ocean. More than a few families who did survive settled into New Orleans East, where they built their lives to reflect their culture and their faith in the Catholic Church. This documentary delves into the preparation of the Vietnamese community's annual Tết Festival, which is blessed each year by the Archbishop of New Orleans. Narrated by local journalist Thanh Truong, this film is available to stream for free on the PBS app.
Created Equal (2017)
One of the greatest tenets of life is the fact that all men are created equal, as in mankind, but that also includes women, right? Not so fast. What about a devout Catholic nun who works with children? Why can't she fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a Roman Catholic priest? This film seeks to answer these questions and more. As we all know, our country touts the separation between its government and its places of worship, so should anti-discrimination laws uphold a woman's right to apply for what has historically been a man's job? Sister Alejandra Batista (Edy Ganem) sees no other alternative but to sue the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The young hotshot attorney (Aaron Tveit) in charge of her case undergoes pressure from the church and his own firm but must ultimately decide what side of history he wants to be on. The film does contain cheesy lines such as, "Your father never recovered from Vatican II. Actually, he never recovered from Irish whiskey," and "I hear you're allergic to the inside of a courtroom." Movie buffs will immediately recognize screen icon Lou Diamond Phillips as the archdiocese's staunch monsignor litigator. From actor/director Bill Duke (Deep Impact, Hoodlum), you can stream this courtroom drama for free on Tubi.
Cabrini (2024)
At a time when immigration enforcement is dominating the news headlines, we harken back to a time when our country was enriched by immigration, and assimilation, by diligent people from cultures around the world. In 1889, sister Francesca Xavier Cabrini petitioned Pope Leo XIII (Italian film legend Giancarlo Giannini) to send her to China as part of the first order of women missionaries. His holiness had a different idea—that of having this extremely determined woman care for the orphan children in New York City. As she begins her ministerial work, the future saint must ward off attacks from both the city's archbishop (David Morse) and its mayor (John Lithgow). With help from former prostitute Vittoria, terminally ill Cabrini (Christiana Dell'Anna) has to finish God's work with the sick and needy children before she can even begin to think about meeting her maker. She would proceed to set up missions around the world, including New Orleans, of which this community is forever grateful. Rent this film wherever streaming rights are sold or as a member of the Angel Studios guild.
