Mother Teresa: A stirring international biopic, Mother, centered on a transformative chapter in Mother Teresa’s life, is set to open the Orizzonti (Horizons) section at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. The selection not only affirms the film’s artistic merit but also shines a global spotlight on Kolkata, where much of the story unfolds and was filmed.
The film captures the momentous week in 1948 when Mother Teresa took the decision to leave her convent to begin her work with the poor—a move that led to the formation of the Missionaries of Charity and changed the face of global humanitarian service.
About the Film: ‘Mother’
Directed by acclaimed Macedonian filmmaker Teona Strugar Mitevska, Mother is a European-Indian co-production that stars Swedish actor Noomi Rapace in the lead role. The film doesn’t attempt a sweeping biographical account but instead zooms into seven pivotal days during which Mother Teresa struggled with her spiritual conscience, faced institutional pushback, and ultimately stepped out of the security of convent life.
According to the director, the film explores Teresa’s emotional solitude, moral conviction, and inner transformation, rather than portraying her as an already-canonized icon.
Supporting cast includes:
- Sylvia Hoeks (known for Blade Runner 2049)
- Nikola Ristanovski
- Akshay Kapoor
- Amrita Chattopadhyay, among others
Kolkata: The Beating Heart of the Film
The production shot extensively in Kolkata in late 2024, with crucial scenes filmed across iconic city locations:
- Loreto Convent, Entally – where Mother Teresa served as a teacher
- Kalighat – the spiritual heart of the city and close to her later works
- Southern Avenue, Bara Bazaar, Ahiritola, Kumartuli – showcasing everyday life of the city
- Mazdoor Pada – a slum settlement where an emotional sequence was filmed
Unfortunately, shortly after filming, Mazdoor Pada was gutted in a fire, making the captured footage a poignant memory of a lost space. The director referred to this as “unintended preservation of history.”
Production Collaboration and Teamwork
The film was co-produced by entities from Belgium, Sweden, North Macedonia, Denmark, and India. The Kolkata leg of the shoot was supported by a number of local production teams and state bodies.
A Belgian crew member commented, “Kolkata was the most cooperative filming city we’ve ever experienced.” This sentiment was echoed by several members of the European team, who expected logistical hurdles but found the city incredibly welcoming.
One notable moment came when the crew received personalized T-shirts reading “Merci Beaucoup” from the foreign cinematographer, as a gesture of gratitude for the local team’s contribution.
Venice Film Festival: Orizzonti Section
The Orizzonti (Horizons) section at Venice is known for celebrating new trends in world cinema. It’s an internationally respected segment that elevates bold, artistic films.
Opening this section is a rare honor, as it sets the tone for the entire competition stream. The film will be evaluated for:
- Best Film
- Best Director
- Best Screenplay
- Best Actor/Actress
The 2025 Venice Film Festival is scheduled between August 27 and September 6.
Official site: https://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema
The Vision Behind the Story Mother Teresa
Teona Strugar Mitevska first visited Kolkata over a decade ago and has long been captivated by its visual and emotional intensity. Speaking to European media, she said, “I didn’t want to portray a saint. I wanted to explore the fragility and strength of a woman at the cusp of extraordinary change.”
By narrowing the story to a one-week window, Mitevska dives deep into the psychological and philosophical questions faced by Teresa:
“Is it disobedience to follow the call of conscience?”
“Is compassion more radical than obedience?”
These questions drive the screenplay and are central to its spiritual and cinematic appeal.
Global Relevance and Indian Legacy
The story, while deeply local, holds universal themes of struggle, empathy, faith, and transformation. The collaboration between European and Indian producers also signals a growing trend of transnational storytelling, particularly about iconic personalities linked to India.
Mother Teresa, who was born in Albania and came to Kolkata in her youth, went on to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 2016.
For more: https://www.vatican.va
Kolkata on the World Stage
This isn’t the first time Kolkata has found its way to international red carpets. Filmmakers like Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, and more recently Aditya Vikram Sengupta, have showcased the city’s cinematic potential.
But Mother represents a different kind of engagement: a global story rooted in a specific Kolkata moment, led by a non-Indian director, and filmed with extraordinary cooperation between cultures.
With this project, Kolkata reclaims its place not just as a subject of Indian storytelling—but as an international character in the language of world cinema.
Cultural and Economic Impact
According to cultural analysts and local filmmakers, this project may stimulate:
- Greater foreign filming interest in the city
- Boosts to film tourism
- Opportunities for local actors and technicians
- Interest in biographical and spiritually-driven narratives
Local authorities have hinted at easing shooting permissions and possibly creating a dedicated film liaison office to facilitate such projects in the future.
What’s Next?
After Venice, Mother is expected to travel across the global festival circuit and may get selected for other major events such as:
- Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
- Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale)
- Busan International Film Festival (BIFF)
There’s also speculation that the film could become an Oscar contender, particularly in the Best International Feature and Best Actress categories.
Final Thoughts: A Tribute to Humanity
Mother is not just a tribute to a saint. It is an intimate look into a woman’s soul when her greatest struggle was not against poverty or injustice—but with herself. It tells us that the decision to help others can sometimes be the hardest path one can take.
It also reminds Kolkata—long the emotional and philosophical backdrop of her story—that its lanes, stories, and citizens are part of a living cinematic legacy now making waves across the globe.
Film & Festival Information
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Venice International Film Festival (La Biennale di Venezia)
https://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema -
Orizzonti (Horizons) Section Overview – Venice Film Festival
https://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/2025/orizzonti
About Mother Teresa
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Official Vatican Biography of Mother Teresa (Saint Teresa of Calcutta)
https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20160904_madre-teresa_en.html -
Nobel Peace Prize 1979 – Mother Teresa
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1979/teresa/biographical/ -
Missionaries of Charity – Official Site
https://motherteresa.org/
Film Production and Talent
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Noomi Rapace (Lead Actress) – IMDb Profile
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0636426/ -
Teona Strugar Mitevska (Director) – IMDb Profile
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1192564/ -
Sylvia Hoeks – IMDb Profile
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1954240/
Kolkata & Film Tourism
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West Bengal Tourism Official Site
https://wbtourism.gov.in/ -
Kolkata Film and Cultural Resources (Bengal Film and Television Chamber of Commerce)
https://bftcc.org/
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