Vision - From the Life of Hildegard von Bingen

A Joyful Bride of Christ
I had the honor of previewing the extraordinary German-language film "Vision", the story of the great Benedictine nun Hildegard von Bingen. Not since the magnificent 1980's Spanish mini-series "Teresa de Jesus" has a film so accurately yet poignantly portrayed a famous woman saint. Newly released on DVD, the Zeitgeist production, directed by Margarethe von Trotta, stars Barbara Sukowa as the enigmatic twelfth century German abbess. One of the most extraordinary figures of the Middle Ages, Hildegard was not only a mystic but an author, a musician, a foundress and a director of souls, learned in the natural sciences as well as in theology and philosophy. She wrote some of the first mystery plays, laying the groundwork for modern drama. Madame Sukowa is able to convey the inner stillness of the contemplative spirit of Hildegard along with her strength and common sense. All the while, the very human side of the saint is always present as she struggles with those who oppose her, as well...

Great while it lasted, but abrupt ending
My wife and I really enjoyed this video-- as far as it went. Which, alas, was not far enough. We have studied the life and work of St. Hildegard for almost fifteen years, so were familiar with her biography. This is very nicely presented here: the scenery is beautiful; the music (though not enough of it) was lovely; the acting is excellent. There is much to recommend this film, certainly. But it draws to a close much too quickly: We are barely introduced to the emperor, Frederick Barbarossa, when Hildegard is off on her preaching tour across Europe. We hear nothing more of her relationship with the emperor, or of the pope whom she [persuaded to return to Rome. There are no references to the illustrations of her visions, magnificent in their own right. Indeed, her works (including Scivias) are touched upon quite briefly, some of them (like her work in medicine and the natural sciences) barely at all. Indeed, the entire last twenty years of her life is completely missing-- details of...

Stunning Biography of an Early Feminist Theologian
For my tastes, this was one of the top films of 2010 - a gorgeous biopic of a strongly willed nun of the Middle Ages who reinvented the meaning of spirituality for her time. Barbara Sukowa gives a subtle, nuanced performance of this philosopher, mystic, herbalist, musician, playwright who insisted on creating a special cloister of female nuns against the wishes of the male religious hierarchy. There were those after her, of course...one thinks of St. Theresa of Avila...but the accomplishments of Hildegard Von Bingen were certainly more varied. For example, she created an entirely new kind of musical religious play. She experimented with the healing power of herbs.

What makes her portrayal so interesting in the movie is that she is not uni-dimensional. At various times Hildegard Von Bingen appears submissive or strong, compassionate or stern, independent and emotionally weak, hard headed and mystic. The power of the actresses performance is that Hildegard's thoughts...

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