Variety is exclusively unveiling the first trailer for “Mother,” starring Noomi Rapace as Mother Teresa, which is opening the Venice Film Festival‘s Horizons strand.
Kinology handles world sales for the project, with Adler Entertainment distributing in Italy.
The trailer of director Teona Strugar Mitevska’s project offers a glimpse into the formative period of one of history’s most complex religious figures during a pivotal moment in Teresa’s spiritual journey.
Set in Kolkata (then Calcutta), India in August 1948, “Mother” follows Teresa, Mother Superior of the convent of the Sisters of Loreto, as she anxiously awaits permission to leave her monastery and create a new religious order. The drama, shot in English, focuses on seven pivotal days in the life of the future saint when she faced a dilemma that challenged both her ambitions and faith.
Rapace leads the cast alongside Sylvia Hoeks and Nikola Ristanovski in the Belgium-North Macedonia co-production. The international production brings together Entre Chien et Loup, Sisters and Brother Mitevski, Rainy Days Productions, Frau Film, SCCA/pro.ba, and Raging Films.
Mitevska, who previously explored Mother Teresa’s life in her documentary “Teresa and I,” draws from extensive research including interviews with the last living sisters who witnessed the saint’s character. The director positions her protagonist not as a traditional saint, but as “almost a CEO of a multinational company, relentless and ambitious,” as she says in her director’s statement.
The filmmaker acknowledges the controversial aspects of her subject, particularly Teresa’s stance on abortion, while choosing to examine the woman before she became the globally recognized saint.
The screenplay, penned by Goce Smilevski, Mitevska, and Elma Tataragić, presents what the director calls “a female story” that avoids traditional martyrdom narratives.
Technical credits include cinematography by Virginie Saint Martin, editing by Per K. Kirkegaard, and production design by Vuk Mitevski. The score comes from Magali Gruselle and Flemming Nordkrog, with sound design by a team including Peter Albrechtsen and Kristoffer Salting.
Watch the trailer here: