Film: La Sirvienta

Official Poster

Within days of its release in Spain, a new film based on the life of the founder of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate (RMI) has reached the top five in the country's 'most popular' movie charts.

La Sirvienta, (The Servant) directed by Pablo Moreno, and starring Spanish actress Cristina González del Valle, tells the story of Saint Vicenta María.

On 15 February the entire film team met Pope Francis in the Pope Paul VI Hall at the Vatican after the General Audience. Cristina González del Valle delivered the first copy of the film to Pope Francis. She said it was a thrilling moment: "I am not going to forget it in my life. In general, I have been in this process for two years and today, still, I have pinched myself to say: 'Yes, yes, Cristina, you are here, you are in Rome, today the film is being presented and you're going to give the Pope a copy of the movie right now."

Later that day the film was premiered in Cine Farnese before a large audience of men and women religious, media and arts professionals.

The General Superior of the RMI, Mother Daría Fernández Ramos, welcomed the audience and explained how the initiative for this production came about through a group of young nuns who contacted the production company Stellarum Films.

After the screening, the director, the actress and other members of the filming crew spoke with the audience how the filming, (which began in 2019) was completed this year, despite difficulties during the covid pandemic.

The attendees applauded effusively and praised the cinematographic quality of the film, its narrative style and fine performances.

In the discussion after the film the testimony of Santa Vicenta María was highlighted, the validity of her legacy in today's world and they stressed that she "was a complete woman, almost like a Renaissance painter."

The Servant is a story of sorority and female empowerment . It. tells the story of Lera, a domestic service worker who is accused of a crime. In a cell in the premises of a Civil Guard barracks, she meets Mihaela and Julia, two prostitutes with whom she shares the story of Santa Vicenta María, founder of the Religious of Mary Immaculate, which, she says saved her life.

Born nearly 200 years ago, from an early age she felt a call to protect other women of her time, who did not have the same opportunities and sought to emigrate from their towns to the big cities... in many cases with little luck. Today the RMI sisters continue her work with young people, especially young women in situations of greater vulnerability.

Watch the official trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgi9YBnvz3o

FURTHER LINKS

La Sirvienta Official Website: https://lasirvienta.com/

RMI Sisters: https://religiosasmariainmaculada.org/en/

RMI Sisters Hostel in London: www.rmilondonhostel.org

Distributors Bosco Films: www.boscofilms.es/