Martin Scorsese shines a light on brave historical saints in Fox Nation series ‘he didn’t believe possible’
A girl wrongly accused was burned at the stake; a man sentenced to death twice by a ruthless Roman emperor; the apostle beheaded at the will of the vengeful queen; a Franciscan monk who sacrificed his life to save another from a Nazi death camp…
Although the backgrounds, circumstances and context of their heroism are very different, these saints share one strong bond: their unwavering devotion and sacrifice that resonates throughout the ages.
Now the focus of Fox Nation’s new documentary, “The Saints,” — brought to the streaming service by none other than legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese — stands as a testament to faith undeterred by persecution and undying courage in the face of threats.
“A 14-year-old girl hears voices – the words of the saints, the voice of God. They tell her to wear men’s clothes, organize an army, lead the French army in battle to put the king of Armagnac on the throne, made,” Scorsese, “the fictional Godfather ” of the series, he said while reflecting on its first episode.
If the story of this 14-year-old girl who cemented her place in history sounds familiar, that’s because it is.
MARK WAHLBERG IS ‘NOT VIOLENT’ IN HIS FAITH: ‘IT’S JUST THE MOST IMPORTANT TRUTH IN MY LIFE’
She is better known as Joan of Arc – a strong leader who believed she was chosen by the forces of God to save France from destruction – but her downfall came when she was recognized as a threat and wrongly accused of heresy and witchcraft by sympathetic Catholic clergy. English reason.
“He becomes a political crime, he is caught, tried, condemned, burned at the stake and, at that moment, the dove comes out of the fire.” [as she draws her last breath]…” continued the famous filmmaker.
Scorsese tells Fox Nation viewers that Joan’s entire body burned to ashes except for her heart, which remained miraculously intact and full of blood.
At least, that’s the story according to witnesses.
For him, sanctity would take almost 500 years, coming in 1920 when he was consecrated as the patron saint of soldiers by the same church that condemned him to death.
MARTIN SCORSSESE SAYS HIS NEW FOX NATION SERIES ‘THE SAINTS’ HE’D ALWAYS WANTED TO TELL.
“The Saints” series opens with the poignant and inspiring tale of Joan of Arc – now available to stream on Fox Nation – which had its world premiere at the Whitby Hotel in New York City on Thursday. The exclusive screening featured a panel discussion moderated by Scorsese himself.
“I couldn’t believe it could be done,” Scorsese told the live audience, explaining that the project was started seven years ago – even though he “always” wanted to do it.
“I grew up living in St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral of the city, meditating, meditating on those images of saints, different saints, and I wonder about their stories,” explains Scorsese. “What is a saint? Are you superhuman? Can they accomplish something simpler than us because we are human? I realized, ‘No,'” he added. “The point is something they are people.”
Scorsese, who won an Academy Award for Best Director for his 2006 masterpiece, “The Departed,” has rarely explored the topic of faith with works like “Silence” and “The Last Temptation of Christ” — the latter of which is a joke “he was banned by everyone.” The filmmaker said he was compelled to bring to life the courageous saints of history because each of them asked the question: “How can people live a life of compassion and love?”
Another saint who showed such compassion and love was Polish priest Maxmilian Kolbe, whose episode was also shown in Whitby on Thursday.
His is a modern story that takes viewers back to 1940s Europe, where, during the Second World War and the Holocaust, Kolbe made the ultimate sacrifice in Auschwitz, volunteering to die in place of a stranger who had a family… and meet a cruel end.
Kolbe, who was believed by some to have antisemitic views at the height of the war, was “transformed” when, as the film shows, he died next to a Jewish prisoner after suffering from abusive conditions – a man, at his end. he said, calling “his brother.”
The holy guardian of prisoners – again journalists – to be ordained in 1982. The man who saved his life was there.
OHIO STATE FOOTBALL PLAYERS DRAWN HUNDREDS AT KAMAS FAITH FESTIVAL: ‘GOD HAS REALLY SHOWN’
“I think [stories of the saints] “It started with people telling the stories of men and women who did extraordinary things and were extraordinary people, who stood up to injustice and cruelty and risked their lives to help other people,” said Scorsese.
The filmmaker told his live audience how important he feels to see these saints for new generations to come, bringing pieces of the past into the present and future.
“Maybe the fact that there are saints, who were not saints and still are saints is something that is lost in our new generation. Because we don’t live with them. Therefore, we thought that this is a good attempt to try to understand what it is and what faith is, really.”
HEISMAN FRONTRUNNER ASHTON JEANTY CREDITS HIS ‘HIGH CHANGE’ FAITH: ‘MY CHRISTIAN QUESTION’
Even now, years after their deaths, the saints’ legacies live on—bridging the gap between humanity and something greater.
“I felt that many people try to find religion without religion … some people invest their energy in politics and justice. For many, there is reflection and consideration … in general, I know that there is a fear of religion, a closeness to belief,” continued Scorsese, “So, I think the message is… we’ve seen great love and great redemption and radical acceptance I use the word ‘radical’ because these things always bring out … to do that [love others, etc.] you will have to express yourself.”
“You have to risk failure, and shame and rejection … all of this at any time, but that’s what gives you a way to see wider and deeper.”
CLICK HERE TO JOIN FOX NATION
“Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints” will premiere in two parts, with the first four episodes to be released on Sunday, November 17, and the final set to conclude in April and May 2025, covering the Saint season.
The eight episodes will examine the lives of Joan of Arc, John the Baptist, Sebastian, Maximilian Kolbe, Francis of Assisi, Thomas Becket, Mary Magdalene and Moses the Black, and Scorsese and his team traveled 2,000 years of history to focus on this. extraordinary people and their extreme acts of kindness, selflessness, and selflessness.
To watch weekly installments of “The Saints,” subscribe to Fox Nation and start streaming the series today. Fox Nation is offering a free 3-month trial with promo code “SAINTS.”
Fox News’ Brian Flood contributed to this report.
Source link