Directed by Teona Strugar Mitevska and co-written with Elma Tataragic, Teresa stars Noomi Rapace as Mother Teresa. This biographical drama recounts a pivotal week in the nun's life, between vocation and conviction. Released in French theaters on December 3, 2025.
In 1948, in Calcutta, Mother Teresa is preparing to leave her convent to found the Missionaries of Charity. During seven decisive days, she faces doubt, faith, and loneliness, seeking to reconcile religious obedience and spiritual calling. Surrounding her are her first sisters and local figures who help her pave the way for a universal work.
The story follows a woman torn between the institution and her conscience in a post-independence India marked by poverty and fervor. An intimate portrait of the woman who would become a global icon.
Presented at the opening of the 2025 Venice Film Festival, Teresa marked Teona Strugar Mitevska's return to the international scene. This biopic follows on from her award-winning works and confirms her interest in committed female figures.
Prior to this film, the director had already explored the life of Mother Teresa in her documentary Teresa and Me, for which she collected testimonies from the last four sisters of the Missionaries of Charity. This experience allowed her to approach the nun from an intimate angle; both were born in Skopje, North Macedonia.
Although the plot takes place in Calcutta, filming was mainly done in Belgium, at the Abbey of Aulne (Thuin), the Saulchoir (Kain), and in Brussels. This is Teona Strugar Mitevska's first English-language film, produced by Sébastien Delloye, a regular collaborator since God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunya. She is also reunited with actress and producer Labina Mitevska, who has appeared in all of her feature films.
To prepare for the role, Noomi Rapace spent a long time researching the life of Mother Teresa, reading religious texts and books about India in the 1940s. This research informed her interpretation, which is rooted in the spirituality and complexity of the character.
Teresa is aimed at audiences interested in historical biopics and spiritual stories focused on doubt, faith, and inner strength.
Teresa
Film | 2025
In theaters December 3, 2025
Biopic, Drama, Historical | Running time: 1h44
By Teona Strugar Mitevska | Starring Noomi Rapace, Sylvia Hoeks, Nikola Ristanovski
Original title: Mother
Nationality: Belgium, Macedonia, Sweden, Denmark, India
A historical biopic recounting the week when Mother Teresa became the woman behind the icon.
To extend your theater experience, check out December's new releases, films to see right now, and our selection of biopics of the year.
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