Don Bosco: The best known films dedicated to the Holy of Young

The life and work of San Juan Bosco, who is known as the “Father and Master of Youth” by Pope John Paul II, has been immortalized in various films over the years, and we remember it especially in the framework of His party, which is celebrated this January 31.

“Everything for God and his glory. In everything he thinks of the glory of God as your only purpose, ”is one of the famous phrases of this saint who founded various religious communities, groups and initiatives that make up what is called as the Salesian family.

Here are some of the most remembered films about the life of the saint.

1. Don Bosco (1935)

Among the oldest films on the founder of the Salesians, the work stands out Don Bosco (1935), directed by Goffredo Alessandrini and produced by “Lux Film”. This film, starring Gian Paolo Rosmino and other non -professional actors, including several Salesians of the time, tells Don Bosco’s life from birth to his canonization in 1934.

The plot travels from its childhood in Piemonte, the creation of the oratory, conflicts with the neighborhood and local authorities, the establishment of professional and agricultural schools, their firm work with orphans, their interest in young people in prisons, the Foundation of the Salesian Congregation, the first missions and their death in 1888.

According to ANSthe communication body of the Salesian congregation, the “film is a faithful biography of the founder of the Salesians” and represents “a classic example of the hagiographic genre, but enriched by a precise language and with ingenious solutions.”

This film is part of the Salesian Film Collection, deposited in 2016 at the National CSC-Archivo of the Ivrea Cinematographic Company, which documents the Salesian work in various countries. Still used to spread the life of Don Bosco, it was bent to several languages ​​and is available online.

2. John the dream boy (1987)

In 1987, it premiered John the dream boy (Giovanni, the boy from the dream), directed by Giuseppe Rolando and distributed by the Salesiana ELLEDICI publishing house. The film, played by Luigi Rosa and other Italian artists of the time, focuses on Juan Bosco’s youth, from his peasant childhood in Becchi to his studies in Chieri, the works he performed to maintain himself and his entry to the Low Turin Seminary The guide of Father Cafasso.

According to the Piedmont’s cinema encyclopedia, this film is appreciated “is not excessively hagiographic” and has a “beautiful photograph that Chieri portrays in the first half of the nineteenth century (then a town of 9 thousand inhabitants halfway between tradition between the tradition peasant and industrial development, especially textile) and the surrounding field ”.

3. Don Bosco (1988)

A year later, in 1988, he premiered Don Boscodirected by Leandro Castellani. In this version, a Don Bosco elder is portrayed who remembers his childhood and tells his struggle to dedicate his life to young people. The film shows its efforts to establish the Salesian community, facing political and social obstacles. Despite the difficulties, Don Bosco finds support in the Pío IX and Leo XIII potatoes. The film culminates with a prayer of thanks to the Virgin Mary, whom she considers source of her work, before her death.

4. Don Bosco (2004)

In 2004, Canl Rai 1 presented a miniseries entitled Don Boscodirected by Gasparini Lodovico and starring Flavio Insinna. The series tells the story of Don Bosco’s vocation, marked by joy and optimism, despite the challenges he faced. Among these is the imposition by Archbishop Lorenzo Fassati to dissolve the Salesian congregation. The series addresses how the priest, after overcoming his illness and despair, shows his young people the value of humility and finally obtains the papal approval of the congregation. In the miniseries you can also see how Don Bosco collected vulnerable children from the streets.

5. Maìn – The House of Happiness (2012)

Finally, in 2012, it premiered Maìn – The house of happinessdirected by Simone Spada and starring Paolo Civati. Although it focuses on the biography of Santa María Doménica Mazzarello, the film dedicates an extensive space to the meeting between her and San Juan Bosco in 1864, an event that led to the foundation of the Institute of the Daughters of María Auxiliadora.