‘The Public’ takes a stand in the Cincinnati library

Last updated on: April 5, 2019 at 6:19 pm By Sister Rose

Emilio Estevez, writer and director, stars in “The Public” – Universal Pictures Stuart Goodson (Emilio Estevez) is a librarian at the public library in downtown Cincinnati. He works with Myra (Jena Malone) who wants to be transferred to a more interesting part of the library. Homeless people who live on the streets make themselves at home in the library during the day, making use of computers and restrooms. Winters are especially difficult for them. The librarians maintain a professional... Read more

‘Unplanned’ the story of Abby Johnson who walked away from Planned Parenthood after 8 years

Last updated on: March 28, 2019 at 7:52 pm By Sister Rose

Ashley Bratcher plays Abby Johnson, a former worker at Planned Parenthood, in the new film “Unplanned” (Provided photo) “Unplanned” is a new film from Chuck Konzelman and Cary Solomon, both known for the Evangelical paranoia, audience-bait trilogy “God’s Not Dead.” They have teamed up again for a true-life story. This time it actually works as a feature film, though I wouldn’t call it entertainment exactly. “Unplanned” is the story of Abby Johnson, a former volunteer, then clinic director... Read more

‘Sobibor’ honors memory of WWII death camp uprising

Last updated on: March 28, 2019 at 7:36 pm By Sister Rose

In October 1943, six months after the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising the previous April on Passover, the 600 or so slave labor prisoners of the Sobibor death camp learn the Russian army is beginning to push west against Germany. Located southeast of Warsaw on what it today Poland’s border with Ukraine, the mostly male population of the death camp plan a revolt. Led by a Russian officer who is faithful to Stalin, they intend to kill as many SS officers... Read more

“Diane” is a contemplative look at life, a saint in ordinary time

Last updated on: March 27, 2019 at 3:28 pm By Sister Rose

It is winter, and Diane (Mary Kay Place) is busy serving meals to the homeless, making sure her sick friends are OK and dealing with her deadbeat, drug-addicted son, Brian (Jake Lacy), who won’t do anything to help himself. Diane and her friends, who get together regularly, realize that death isn’t that far away given their age. Diane carries the responsibility for her community and for Brian, who suddenly sees the light and gets religion. Diane is not impressed as... Read more

Flying high with “Dumbo”

Last updated on: March 27, 2019 at 2:07 pm By Sister Rose

Photo Credit: (c) Disney Studios World War I has just ended. Holt (Colin Farrell) has returned to his job at the circus after losing his left arm in battle. While he was away, his wife died. Since then, his daughter, Milly (Nico Parker), and son, Joe (Finley Hobbins), have been staying with kind circus performers. It is a sad and awkward homecoming for Holt, but things are about to get exciting. Max (Danny DeVito), who owns the circus, recently... Read more

“Five Feet Apart” looks at teens dealing with chronic illness

Last updated on: March 14, 2019 at 2:19 pm By Sister Rose

Five Feet Apart – Stella Grant (Haley LU Richardson) is seventeen years old. She’s a teen girl who likes to do everything other girls her age enjoy but she does it from her almost permanent room in a hospital. Stella has cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic disorder that affects the lungs and other organs because CF makes the body overproduce mucus that can harbor highly infectious bacteria. A new medical trial is beginning and her friend Poe (Moises Arias),... Read more

The Apparition – new on DVD

Last updated on: January 15, 2019 at 6:47 pm By Sister Rose

Jacques (Vincent Lindon) is an injured war journalist who has recently returned to France after seeing his colleague die in an explosion in a Middle East conflict. He struggles with his hearing and wants to be alone. When he is mysteriously beckoned to the Vatican and asked to be on a team investigating Anna (Galatéa Bellugi), a young woman who says she has seen the Blessed Virgin, he reluctantly accepts. The town in southern France where the apparitions occur is... Read more

My 2018 Christmas letter and Remembering My Sister: In Memoriam Amantas

Last updated on: December 24, 2018 at 1:34 pm By Sister Rose

Christmas 2018 Dear Friends and Family, It has been a very big year for me in terms of being busy, traveling, speaking and writing – and grieving. Our youngest sister, Eva Marie, died in April. It was sudden and unexpected. I am including a short memoir of Eva’s last days here. Please join us in prayer for her eternal repose. Her funeral Mass and celebration of life in Fallon, NV at her son’s home on May 5, is something we... Read more

Magisterium of the People: The Story of the People’s Pastoral Appalachia to premiere Christmas Day

Last updated on: December 23, 2018 at 12:54 pm By Sister Rose

This rather short documentary (43 minutes) by filmmaker Sebastian Gomes is a story of love that comes straight from the heart of people who love the Appalachia mountains and the people who live there. Whether nuns, ordinary folk, or clergy, they make up a group called the Catholic Committee of Appalachia (CCA.) It was founded in 1970 to serve the people of Appalachia, the poor and the entire web of creation. This new film tells the story of the CCA and... Read more

“The Eugenics Crusade” continues today – premieres PBS October 16

Last updated on: October 15, 2018 at 3:33 pm By Sister Rose

This two-hour documentary, written and directed by Michelle Ferrari, tells the largely unknown story of America’s quest to breed healthy babies – the impulse to perfect humanity – through eugenics beginning in the late 19th century. By the mid 1920’s eugenics was mainstream and codified by laws that restricted immigration and allowed for the sterilization of tens of thousands of American citizens deemed to be “morons,” “unfit,” or poor, illiterate, had a child due to rape, or a prostitute. As the... Read more