Faustina

A 1994 dramatization of the life of Sister Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938), a Polish nun and visionary declared a saint by Pope John Paul II in 2000, Jerzy Lukaszewicz's Faustina is undoubtedly reverent, but also too fragmentary and elliptical to be entirely satisfying. A peasant girl, Kowalska joined the Order of Our Lady of Mercy in 1925, and in 1931 claimed that Jesus appeared to her in the form of the King of Divine Mercy, a now famous image she eventually guided an artist to paint upon Christ's direction. After her death, however, her writings were suppressed by Rome, presumably--although this is not made clear--because she emphasized simple obedience over ritual and prayer; eventually, a Vatican theological committee reevaluated Kowalska, and her beatification and canonization soon followed. Narrated by an elderly nun who now regrets her harsh treatment of Faustina, the film features a good performance by Dorota Segda as the sickly but joyful mystic; however, its unnecessarily intricate construction and pretentious style are serious weaknesses. DVD extras include an evocative documentary on the recent resurgence of the Order, a historical photo gallery, and a text biography. Optional. (F. Swietek)