Teresa: Noomi Rapace Portrays Mother Teresa in Biopic by Teona Strugar Mitevska
Teresa is a biographical film featuring Noomi Rapace as Mother Teresa, directed by Teona Strugar Mitevska and co-written with Elma Tataragic. The film premiered at the 2025 Venice Film Festival and will be released in France on December 3, 2025.
Plot Overview
The story takes place in 1948 Calcutta, capturing a crucial week in Mother Teresa's life as she prepares to leave her convent to establish the Missionaries of Charity. During this intense period, she grapples with doubt, faith, and loneliness while balancing religious obedience with her spiritual calling.
Surrounded by her first sisters and local community members, she navigates the challenges of creating a universal mission. The film portrays a woman conflicted between institutional expectations and her conscience amid post-independence India's poverty and fervor, offering an intimate glimpse into the figure who would become a global icon.
Director’s Perspective and Background
Presented at the opening of the 2025 Venice Film Festival, Teresa marks Teona Strugar Mitevska's return to international cinema. This biopic builds on her previous acclaimed works and highlights her ongoing interest in portraying committed female figures.
Before this film, Strugar Mitevska explored Mother Teresa's life in the documentary Teresa and Me, which featured testimonies from the last four sisters of the Missionaries of Charity.
"Teresa marked Teona Strugar Mitevska's return to the international scene and confirms her interest in committed female figures."
Release Date: December 3, 2025 (France)
Festival Premiere: 2025 Venice Film Festival
Teresa offers a moving and introspective view of Mother Teresa’s early challenges, blending faith and humanity against a backdrop of social change.
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