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A good introduction to Dorothy Day

Jason A. Gagnon | Cobleskill, NY USA | 01/07/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I had been trying to explain Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker movement to my wife, but I was failing miserably. I had seen there was a new documentary out on her and asked my priest if he'd seen it- he hadn't, but wrote down the name. He did suggest that we try and find a copy of this film as a fine introduction to Dorothy Day.

He was right.

If you're looking for an in depth study of Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, you won't find that here. You start with her in her early twenties, and leave off with her at about age 40, with a small scene that caps the beginning and close of the movie with her in her mid seventies. The movie focuses on her conversion experience, from a bohemian radical who smokes and drinks and sleeps with men (and they do mention the abortion) to a devoted christian radical, all the while showing how her commitment to justice and help for the poor.

The movie covers a great deal of ground, and does a capable job. I think I was only dissapointed because I know as much as I do about Peter Maurin and Dorothy Day (case in point- I was irrationally dissapointed that there was no discussion of Distributism in the film and talk of the farms the community started) - if you have someone that is unfamiliar with these two, get this movie.

Peter Maurin and Dorothy Day are America's St Francis and St Clare, and the more people know of them, the better."

A story of substance - and a fine entertainment

W. Hamilton | NSW Australia | 08/12/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Moira Kelly gives a luminous performance as Dorothy Day, a woman working among the poor in Depression America who was also one of the founders of The Catholic Worker newspaper. This film tells a story of substance about a fine American - employing the talents of a terrific cast, an excellent scenario writer(s) and a production team that convincingly recreates the look and the sound of New York circa 1910-1935. A film about good deeds is not necessarily a good film. This one is."

Bouleversant

LAurore | Bretagne, France | 05/30/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Un film magnifique, bouleversant. Moira Kelly est extraordinaire, comme toujours ! Martin Sheen également. Une histoire vraiment touchante. Les bonus que comporte le DVD sont super !"