Christian Biography (Documentaries)

Directed by Peter Kershaw.
26 minutes; released 1995.
A documentary about St. Aidan, the seventh century Bishop of Lindisfarne. Part of the Memorable Leaders in Christianity series.

Directed by George Torok.
30 minutes; released 1996.
A documentary about the New York Catholic politician. In 1928 he was the Democratic presidential candidate, but lost, in part because of anti-Catholic bigotry. Part of the Catholic Life in America series.

Directed by Janson Media.
50 minutes; released 2002.
A tour of the major sites in Assisi which played a significant role in the life of Saint Francis.

Directed by Greg Friedman.
120 minutes; released 2006.
In this documentary on Saints Francis and Clare, contemporary pilgrims discuss why they have followed in the footsteps of these saints by visiting Assisi, Rome, Greccio and La Verna.

Produced by Journey Films.
57 minutes; released 1999.
A documentary about Leon Joseph Suenens, the Belgian cardinal who played an important role at the Second Vatican Council.

Directed by Peter Kershaw.
26 minutes; released 1995.
A documentary about St. Bede the Venerable, the eighth century monk most famous for his Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Part of the Memorable Leaders in Christianity series.

Produced by Journey/Frost Productions, Family Theatre Productions and Santa Fe Communications.
57 minutes; released 1998.
A television documentary about the life of Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, Archbishop of Chicago.

Directed by Michael Merriman.
122 minutes; released 2006.
An authorized documentary about evangelist Billy Graham's life and ministry.

Directed by Martin Doblmeier.
90 minutes; released 2003.
A documentary about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor who opposed the Nazis.

Directed by Jean-Claude Labrecque.
87 minutes; released 1987.
The story of Brother André, who was credited for many miraculous healings and who founded what eventually became St. Joseph's Oratory in Montréal. Nominated for three Genies. In French with English subtitles.

Produced by the Eternal Word Television Network.
30 minutes; released 2008.
The story of John Henry Newman's work as an Anglican clergyman in the village of Littlemore.

Produced by the Eternal Word Television Network.
30-minute programs; released 2004.
Father John McCloskey shares the fruit of his doctoral dissertation about Venerable John Henry Newman.

Produced by the Eternal Word Television Network.
360 minutes; released 2006.
A series examining the life of Saint Catherine of Siena.

Directed by Chris Gormlie.
49 minutes; released 1999.
This film explores Celtic life and the role of religion in Celtic society.

Directed by Joseph D. Fenton.
110 minutes; released 1994.
The Company examines the life and legacy of Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus. Also included on this DVD is Thomas Berry: Dreamer of the Universe, a conversation with the historian, environmental activist and poet Father Thomas Berry.

Directed by Don Murray.
105 minutes; released 1970.
A feature-length movie adaptation of David Wilkerson's autobiography about his ministry among gang members in New York City.

Directed by Peter Kershaw.
26 minutes; released 1995.
A documentary about St. Cuthbert, the seventh century Bishop of Lindisfarne. Part of the Memorable Leaders in Christianity series.

Directed by George Torok.
27 minutes; released 1998.
A documentary about an African-American lay Catholic journalist. Part of the Catholic Life in America series.

Directed by Hermann D. Tauchert.
47 minutes; released 1994.
Dramatization of the life of Polish nun, Saint Faustina Kowalska.

Directed by George Torok.
27 minutes; released 1992.
A documentary about the foundress of the Catholic Worker Movement. Part of the Catholic Life in America series.

Produced by Central Television Enterprises.
60 minutes; released 1991.
A documentary about the life and work of Cardinal John Henry Newman, the nineteenth century convert Catholic theologian.

Directed by Ken Kennedy.
93 minutes; released 1977.
A feature-length movie dramatization of the life of Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, a Jesuit missionary who worked in California. Starring Richard Egan and Ricardo Montalban.

Directed by Jerzy Lukaszewicz.
75 minutes; released 1994.
Dramatization of the life of Polish nun, Saint Faustina Kowalska. Audio-track in Polish with English subtitles.

Produced by Wenzonsky Productions.
60 minutes; released 1973.
A documentary about the life of Blessed Pio of Pietrelcina, an Italian priest who received the stigmata.

Directed by Hilary Pryor.
48 minutes; released 2005.
A documentary about Sister Elaine MacInnes, classical musician, Zen master, and prison activist.

Directed by Barbara Rick.
52 minutes; released 2007.
Sarah Melici's one woman play about the life of Dorothy Day, co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement.

Produced by the Eternal Word Television Network.
300 minutes; released 2006.
Father Jacques Daley visits those places in Poland which featured importantly in the life of Saint Faustina Kowalska.

Produced by the Mercy Foundation.
60 minutes; released 1995.
A documentary about Saint Maria Goretti, the 11 year old girl who on her deathbed forgave the man who mortally stabbed her because she resisted his attempt to rape her.

Produced by Hallel Communications.
30 minutes; released 1994.
A documentary about Mother Cabrini, the saint who worked with Italian immigrants to the United States. Part of the Catholic Life in America series.

Directed by Jason A. Schmidt and Ron Schmidt.
24 minutes; released 2008.
A documentary about Blessed Franz Jägerstätter, a farmer and father of four who was martyred by the Nazis for refusing to fight in the German Army in World War II.

Produced by the Ignatius Press.
25-minute episodes; released 2001.
This fourteen part television series presents the life and works of G.K. Chesterton, one of modern Catholicism's most famous and prolific authors.

Directed by Yale Roe.
510 minutes; released 2004.
Narrated by Nobel Prize winning author Elie Wiesel, this series uses Historical Reenactments and visuals of great works of art to tell the stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Abraham and Isaac, Job, Moses, David.

Directed by Mary Salzer.
60 minutes; released 2004.
A documentary about Captain Vincent Capodanno, a chaplain in the United States Marine Corps, who was killed in action in Vietnam in 1967.

Directed by Peter Kershaw.
26 minutes; released 1997.
A documentary about St. Hilda, the seventh century Abbess of Whitby. Part of the Memorable Leaders in Christianity series.

Produced by Opus Arte.
239 minutes; released 2003.
A production of The Ritual of the Virtues, the oldest surviving European music-drama. Also includes two documentaries about Hildegard, and interviews with Matthew Fox and Mary Grabowsky.

Produced by the Eternal Word Television Network.
28-minute videocassettes; released 1999.
The lives of famous converts to Catholicism, including G.K. Chesterton, Elizabeth Seton, John Henry Newman, Edith Stein, Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, Malcolm Muggeridge, Ronald Knox, Jacques Maritain, and Cornelia Connelly.

Directed by Barbara Rick.
82 minutes; released 2004.
A documentary about Sister Jeannine Gramick, co-founder of New Ways Ministry, an organisation which advocates for change in the Catholic teaching about homosexuality and homosexual practice.

Directed by George Torok.
27 minutes; released 1993.
A documentary about the founder of the Paulist Fathers. Part of the Catholic Life in America series.

Directed by Henry Herx and George Torok.
27 minutes; released 2000.
A documentary about the founder of the Maryknoll Fathers who pioneered the use of mass media to foster support for mission activities. Part of the Catholic Life in America series.

Directed by George Torok.
30 minutes; released 1992.
A documentary about the religious issue in the presidential candidacy of John F. Kennedy. Part of the Catholic Life in America series.

Directed by George Torok.
30 minutes; released 1996.
A documentary about an American theologian who was influential in the framing of the "Declaration on Religious Freedom" from the Second Vatican Council. Part of the Catholic Life in America series.

Directed by George Torok.
30 minutes; released 1992.
A documentary about Monsignor John Ryan who chartered the course of Catholic principles in social justice in the years following World War I. Part of the Catholic Life in America series.

Directed by Karen Pascal.
56 minutes; released 2003.
A look at the life of Henri Nouwen - a Catholic priest and one of the most popular spiritual writers of the late twentieth century.

Directed by George Torok.
30 minutes; released 1994.
A documentary about the Mohawk woman who was beatified in 1980.

Directed by Bob O'Donnell.
60 minutes; released 1979.
A documentary about the life of C.S. Lewis with visits to his birthplace, school, and home at Oxford University.

Produced by the Teaching Company.
30-minute lectures; released 2007.
Historian William Cook discusses the lives of prominent Christians through the ages.

Produced by Vision Video.
69 minutes; released 2008.
Rick Steves introduces two separate programs, “The Life of Apostle Paul” and “The Life of Apostle Peter”.

Produced by Salt + Light Television Productions.
52 minutes; released 2004.
The official documentary of the life of St. Gianna Beretta Molla with excerpts of the Canonization ceremony on May 16, 2004. Includes interviews with Pietro Molla and their children. Recommended for families, schools, university chaplaincies, marriage preparation, and lay ministry programs.

Produced by the Teaching Company.
30-minute lectures; released 2004.
He was only a humble monk and Bible professor, yet he sparked a religious rebellion that changed history. This 24-lecture course explores Martin Luther's theology and the Reformation after he posted his famous 95 theses on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany in 1517.

Directed by Jean-Daniel Lafond.
77 minutes; released 2008.
A lively and surprising portrait of Saint Marie de l'Incarnation, a French nun who founded an Ursuline convent in Quebec in 1639. In French with English subtitles.

Directed by Paul Wilkes.
57 minutes; released 1984.
A documentary about Thomas Merton, the Trappist monk who became a major twentieth-century spiritual writer.

Directed by Stephen K. Ray and Janet L. Ray.
90 minutes; released 2003.
Best-selling Catholic author Stephen Ray takes the viewer to Egypt, Jordan, and Israel in his study of the prophet Moses. Part of The Footprints of God series.

Directed by Ann Petrie and Jeanette Petrie.
82 minutes; released 1986.
A documentary about Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Narrated by Richard Attenborough.

Produced by BBC-TV, BBC Worldwide Americas, Inc. and A&E Network.
50 minutes; released 1997.
A documentary about Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Part of the A&E Biography series.

Directed by Ann Petrie and Jeanette Petrie.
55 minutes; released 2004.
The dramatic story of Mother Teresa's last day, her sudden death and her moving state funeral which was attended by the poor, the powerful and the rich from around the world. At the heart of this film we see and hear Mother Teresa reveal her simple but profound spirituality that, put into action, transcended religious, political and cultural boundaries and enabled her to open 500 homes for the poor in over 124 countries.

Directed by Peter Kershaw.
26 minutes; released 1996.
A documentary about St. Oswald, the seventh century first Christian King of Northumbria. Part of the Memorable Leaders in Christianity series.

Produced by Pio Wenzonsky Productions.
60 minutes; released 1994.
A documentary about the life of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, an Italian priest who received the stigmata.

Directed by Paolo Damosso.
135 minutes; released 2003.
Archival film footage about Saint Pio of Pietrelcina.

Directed by Pamela Mason Wagner.
53 minutes; released 2004.
A docu-drama of the life of Saint Patrick. Liam Neeson and Gabriel Byrne provide voice-work, and on-camera commentary is provided by the writer Frank McCourt.

Directed by Stephen K. Ray and Janet L. Ray.
90 minutes; released 2004.
Best-selling Catholic author Ray takes the viewer to Israel, Syria, Turkey, Greece, and Italy in his study of Saint Paul. Part of The Footprints of God series.

Directed by Roger Young.
180 minutes; released 2000.
Shot in the Moroccan desert, this miniseries chronicles the life of Christ's most prolific messenger - Paul, originally known as Saul of Tarsus, who was a persecutor of Christians until Jesus came to him in a vision.

Directed by David Eisenbise.
75 minutes; released 2003.
Best-selling Catholic author Stephen Ray takes the viewer to Galilee, Jerusalem, and Rome in his study of St. Peter the Apostle. He answers questions about the infallibility of the Pope, papal succession, and the truth of Catholic teaching. Part of The Footprints of God series.

Produced by Trinity Television, the Parish of Trinity Church.
24-minute discs; released 2005.
Throughout history a few special individuals have felt a spiritual longing so profound that nothing could satisfy their hunger. Facing uncharted territory, they mapped their own souls, seeking that mystical place where the self meets the divine. We call them Pioneers of the Spirit.

Produced by Metanoia Pictures.
50 minutes; released 2009.
A documentary about Father John F. Harvey, a priest who in 1980 became the founding director of the Catholic ministry, Courage, which ministers to people with same-sex attractions and their loved ones.

Produced by Faith & Values Media.
56 minutes; released 2003.
A documentary about Saint Francis of Assisi based on the biography by Donald Spoto. Narrated by Liev Schreiber. Starring the voice of Robert Sean Leonard.

Produced by Salt + Light Productions.
60 minutes; released 2008.
A documentary about the Vietnamese bishop who was imprisoned for his faith for over thirteen years.

Directed by Viktor Ryzhko.
60 minutes; released 1992.
A documentary about the life of Orthodox saint and martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth Fedorovna, aunt of Tsar Nicholas II.

Directed by John Duigan.
105 minutes; released 1989.
A dramatization of the life of Oscar Romero, the archbishop of San Salvador who was assassinated in 1980. Starring Raul Julia.

Directed by Ana Carrigan and Bernard Stone.
55 minutes; released 1982.
The story of Jean Donovan, an American lay missioner working in El Salvador who was brutally murdered with three religious sisters by members of the government's security force.

Directed by Glenn Holsten.
80 minutes; released 2006.
Friends and colleagues pay tribute to Father Mychal Judge, a Franciscan priest who was chaplain to the New York City Fire Department and the first recorded victim of the September 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center.

Directed by Robert Krantz.
30-minute episodes; released 2008.
Biographies of the following saints: Anthony, Athanasius, Basil, Catherine, Constantine, Demetrios, Dionysius, George, Haralambos, Helen, John the Baptist, John Chrysostom, the Archangel Michael, Nektarios, Nicholas, Peter, Paul.

Produced by Salt + Light Television Productions.
30 minutes; released 2006.
One hundred Canadian university students visit shrines associated with Saint Peter, Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, Blessed Rupert Mayer, Saint Edith Stein, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Clare of Assisi, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, and Blessed John XXIII.

Produced by the Ignatius Press.
93 minutes; released 1997.
A documentary on the life of the "Little Flower". Includes interviews, dramatizations, examination of her writings and extensive visits to her home and the Carmel at Lisieux.

Produced by the Eternal Word Television Network.
90 minutes; released 2009.
A documentary about the life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, a young Italian man who left behind an astounding legacy of good works. Hosted by Christine M. Wohar with interviews with Frassati's niece, Wanda Gawronska.

Directed by Richard Attenborough.
133 minutes; released 1993.
A feature-length movie based on the true story of C.S. Lewis, a world-renowned writer and professor who remains untouched by any great passion until he meets and falls in love with Joy Gresham, a feisty, abrasive New York divorce.

Directed by Oren Jacoby.
88 minutes; released 2004.
The story of Sister Rose Thering, a Dominican nun who has made the battle against anti-Semitism her life's work.

Directed by John B. Clote.
75 minutes; released 2002.
A documentary about Father Solanus Casey (1870-1957), a Capuchin priest of extraordinary faith and the first American-born man to be declared "Venerable" by the Roman Catholic Church.

Directed by Harvey Crossland.
97 minutes; released 2007.
This revealing programme tackles the myths about Saint Mary Magdalene.

Directed by Joe Copeland and Fred Williams.
28-minute programs; released 2000.
Father Raymond Gawronski presents the 30 day retreat of Saint Ignatius Loyola, suggesting points of meditation and reflection.

Produced by the Teaching Company.
30-minute lectures; released 2004.
An analysis of the classic work Confessions by St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430). Includes Roman history and Christian controversries at the time and background for understanding the book. Also discusses its ongoing usefulness and how it may serve as a guide despite the obvious difference between Augustine's world and ours.

Produced by the Eternal Word Television Network.
90 minutes; released 1996.
Father Benedict Groeschel explores the work of Saint Augustine especially as a spiritual writer.

Produced by Oriente Occidente Productions.
70 minutes; released 1993.
Contains two programs: St. Clare of Assisi, a biography of Saint Clare, and Poor Clares: A Hidden Presence, a documentary about women living in monasteries around the world today. English, Spanish and Italian languages.

Produced by Human Life International.
57 minutes; released 2006.
The story of Saint Gerard Majella, a Redemptorist brother from Southern Italy, whose purity of faith, love of God and obedience to his superiors are models for us today, and who may become the patron saint of the unborn.

Produced by the Eternal Word Television Network.
30-minute episodes; released 2005.
Father John McCloskey and Dr. Gerard Wegemer discuss the sixteenth-century Lord Chancellor of England, martyred under King Henry VIII.

Produced by Ignatius Productions.
30 minutes; released 2003.
The life of Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky, a Ukranian Catholic bishop, who suffered many years of persecution by the Communists.

Produced by the History Channel and A & E Television Networks.
68 minutes; released 2000.
Theologians explore the life and legacy of St. Paul through an in-depth analysis of his writings.

Directed by Karen Pascal.
50 minutes; released 2001.
A documentary about Henri Nouwen, a Catholic priest and one of the most popular spiritual writers of our generation.

Produced by the Eternal Word Television Network.
28-minute programs; released 1996.
Father Thomas Dubay hosts a television series about the life and spirituality of Saint Teresa of Avila.

Directed by Henry Herx and George Torok.
27 minutes; released 2000.
A documentary about the founder of the National Federated Colored Catholics Movement.

Directed by Agnieszka Holland.
117 minutes; released 1988.
A dramatization of the life of Father Jerzy Popielusko, the Polish priest who was murdered by the Communist authorities on account of his support of the Solidarity union.

Directed by Stephanie J. Castillo, Walter Josten and Daniel Marra.
60 minutes; released 2003.
Narrated by Robin Williams, this documentary explores the life and ministry of Father Damien Veuster, the Belgian priest who in 1883 began his work among Molokai's isolated leper population.

Directed by Peter Kershaw.
26 minutes; released 1997.
A documentary about St. Wilfrid, the seventh century Bishop of York who united the Celtic Church with the Apostolic See of Rome. Part of the Memorable Leaders in Christianity series.

Produced by Ignatius Press.
30 minutes; released 2002.
Father Walter Ciszek is admired worldwide for having survived 23 years in Russian gulags. Sent to Poland as a missionary in 1938, Ciszek was soon arrested by the KGB, accused of spying, and sent to Siberia, where he remained until 1963. This documentary tells the story of this Jesuit's life, shows his influence on the Catholic resurgence in Russia, and emphasizes Ciszek's trust in God.

Produced by St. Anthony Messenger Press.
42 minutes; released 2008.
Two short documentaries - The Gift of Katherine Drexel (28 minutes) and Work of God's Hands: A Video on Mother Teresa for Young People (14 minutes).

Produced by Family Theater Productions.
25 minutes; released 1997.
A documentary on Father Patrick Peyton and his influential ministry on the power of prayer.