uses a historic backdrop to tell the true story of Augustine of Hippo – one of the Catholic Church’s most beloved and well-known Saints. Its message is as timely today as it was only a few generations after Jesus walked on Earth. It is the story of one who pursues fame and fortune without a moral compass – and the changes that occur when events lead him to see the light. It also chronicles the collapse of the Roman world and how Augustine laid the intellectual foundations of what became Europe
Filmed in Europe, this new epic film is the first full-length feature movie about St. Augustine.
The Story
In 430 AD, in the besieged city of Hippo, the 70-year-old Bishop Augustine told Jovinus, a captain of the Roman guards, the story of how his Christian mother, Monica, saved him.
As a youngster in Roman North Africa, Augustine witnessed the persuasive effectiveness of the orator Microbius, whose lynchpin for any argument was, “These are facts…not words.” Augustine fell victim to his own ego, becoming a narcissist who was “eager to be eminent.” Monica, his mother and a Catholic, played a significant role throughout his life, reminding him that her hope and prayers are that “one day, we will be united in our faith.”
He left home for Carthage as a teen-ager to study under Microbius, and became a great orator and lawyer. His lustful, self-centered ways led to all sorts of debauchery – and to romance with the servant woman assigned to him. As a lawyer, Augustine proved worthy of his training – even convincing a jury to acquit a guilty man of assaulting his wife. He ultimately returned home, only to be invited to Milan to become the emperor’s orator.
When ordered to speak out against Catholic Bishop Ambrose, who is seen as a threat to the young emperor and his power, Augustine listened to Ambrose preach and ultimately used the bishop’s own words – and the words of the Scriptures – against him. When the emperor ordered Augustine to seize the basilica in Milan to weaken the bishop, he witnessed the senseless murders of innocent Catholics as the Roman army attempted to take over the basilica.
Before the speech, in a meeting with Augustine, the bishop suggested to the young lawyer that men never find the truth. “They must,” he said, “let the truth find them.” The truth found Augustine following the attack on the basilica. He decried the murders of innocents in a speech before the emperor and walked out – into a Catholic conversion. He told Bishop Ambrose that, for the first time, he stopped talking and listened. After baptizing him, the bishop noted that God will ask more of Augustine than of others because of his gifts as a great communicator. And in a prophetic gesture, he handed the newly baptized Augustine a jar of ink and encouraged him to “use it all.”
In one of the film’s most powerful scenes, the now-Catholic Bishop Augustine publicly debates the bishop of the Donatists, a sect against whom he struggled for many years. An impartial judge decides the winner.
Back in Hippo, on the eve of a vicious attack by Vandal raiders, Bishop Augustine urged the Roman garrison to negotiate with the Vandal King Genseric, but they proudly refused. Their decision forced Augustine to make a heroic decision of his own. By then, he had used almost all of that ink – in writing some of the most beloved documents in Church history, including “The Confessions” and “The City of God.”
Christian Duguay (Joan of Arc, Pius XII) directed RESTLESS HEART. The $20-million project runs 127 minutes. The cast includes Allesandro Preziosi, Monica Guerritore, Johannes Brandrup, Serena Rossi and Franco Nero.
SHARED FROM http://restlessheartfilm.com/about.php
Bring Restless Heart
to a Theater Near You!
RESTLESS HEART: The Confessions of Augustine is an epic film with production values that make it perfect for theatrical screenings. Your community deserves to experience this inspiring true story – based on St. Augustine’s own writings – on the big screen in a local theater.You can make that happen by hosting a theatrical screening in your area! To learn the steps involved in scheduling and hosting a successful screening of this amazing film, contact The Maximus Group at 1-877-263-1263 or RestlessHeart@MaximusMG.com.
RESTLESS HEART will be playing in your area!
August 28th – The Augustine Institute presents Restless Heart at 6160 S Syracuse Way Greenwood Village, CO 80111. Contact Christine at Christine@AugustineInstitute.org for ticket information.
August 28th, September 1st and September 2nd – The Parkland Theatre Presents Restless Heart at 6550 Parkland Avenue Cincinnati, OH. Call 513-600-7900 or e-mail parkland@cinci.rr.com for tickets.
August 29th - St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church presents Restless Heart at Mazza Gall 7 located at 5300 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington, DC 20015. For tickets, contact Elaine Schaller by email (elaine.stanthonydc@gmail.com), or call Josephine at 240-601-1497.
September 1st – St. Dominican Catholic Church presents Restless Heart at Silverado 16 Theater located at 11505 West Loop 1604 North, San Antonio, Texas. Contact Carol at clglass@live.com for ticket information.
Nov. 16th, Nov. 18th – Holy Angels Books presents Restless Heart at El Campanil Theatre, 602 West Second Street, Antioch, CA – For tickets, contact Andrea at 925-778-9575
SHARED FROM PRESS RELEASE : http://restlessheartfilm.com/index.php
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