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Title: Not a saint's life, but a fantasy of one
Review: As a homage to one of the most beloved saints of the Augustinian order, this is a truly compelling and well-intentioned film. However, viewers who are new to Rita's story and those whose lives have been blessed by her favor should explore the information available at the National Shrine of Saint Rita in Philadelphia. Here, one can learn of latter-day research that not only rehabilitates the character of her husband but also makes a convincing case for her implausibly "miraculous" entry into the convent, to say nothing of its various depictions of her astonishing devotion to Christ's passion. Indeed, Rita's receipt of the stigmata from the crown of thorns--which takes up mere moments in the film--was the indisputable center of her many years in the convent and the origin of her progress to deserved sainthood. Instead of the wildly inflated and romantic tale offered by the film, Rita's real story is one marked by austerity, Good Suffering, and holy mystery.
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