Vision: From the Life of Hildegard Von Bingen [DVD] [2011] [Region 1] [NTSC]

This movie really captures the iron strength and humanity also of a great saint, and one of the doctors of the Church. Barbara Sukowa is a splendid actress! She's perfect for the role. The production and location of the movie was also highly commendable. However, according to the director she has a friend who's a professor in medieval history, who told her that in those times contracts were sealed with lip to lip kisses. This may or may not be true, but in any case, there were just too many lip to lip kisses in this movie, between monks and nuns (some, I suppose, would find that very amusing). It's not that I wanted this movie to be prudish, but it was just distracting to have some serious piece of dialogue, and then the monk Volmar being kissed by one of the nuns, and suddenly looking like a surprised schoolboy...Other than this confessedly minor point, I highly admire the research and fidelity of this movie. Many of the lines come straight from the works of Hildegard, and we are introduced to her wide learning and interests. To her thoughts on healing, music, nature, and of course, her visions from the Scivias. The faithfulness to the history would have made this a great movie to use on my medieval philosophy students for example, were it not for the kissing which, I worry, would leave my students with an awkward and historically controversial perspective on the medieval age.

I love Hildegard Von Bingen - I find her life and everything about her inspiring - what a woman and what a beautiful relationship with our wonderful God Almighty.

great DVD as advertised, quick delivery, recommended seller A+

New Age feminist trash. If you are hoping to watch the story of a Saint of the Roman Catholic Church, and be inspired by the holiness of St Hildegard, then do not purchase this video. If is full of New Age, feminist nonsense and sexual promiscuity. Nothing in the video displays the life of a Saint. Quite the contrary. The acting displays a woman who is far from humble which is the hallmark of a true Saint. Nothing of her prayer life or that of the Nuns. What a contrast to the "Song of Bernadette" or Teresa de Jesus!

When you watch Margarethe Von Trotte's films, don't expect a shallow story of gaiety and sunshine! What Margarethe always delivers is quality, in-depth character studies with the feeling of what it might have been like to have been there. "Vision" shows us Hildegard Von Bingen, an extraordinary woman whose life and music will continue to touch people for thousands of years. Among the highlights of the film are the depiction of Hildegard's emotions and relationships, her wide ranging intellectual interests and a feeling of absolute authenticity - all typical features of Margarethe Von Trotte's work. A charming feature is the inclusion of Hildegard's lovely music. While not having the powerful punch of "Marianne and Juliane" and "Rosa Luxemburg", "Vision" has a quiet strength with a good ending!

I live in the UK and bought this DVD from USA....of course it doesn't work in my English systems!!