So I have come to the realization on the selection process on how the Catholic Church canonizes Saints. Working miracles is only part of it. Really, what you need to do is simply be persecuted by your own brothers for your entire life.  The more scandals you are framed as being part of, the more detentions you are forced unjustly to serve, and the amount of assholes you have to deal with on a day-to-day basis are directly proportionate to your likelihood of becoming a Saint.

At least, that was the case for St. Francis of Assisi, and perhaps even more so of his modern age follower, Francesco Forgione, more commonly known as Padre Pio. As chronicled in the television mini-series Padre Pio: Miracle Man, you get to see all sorts of foul happenings befall the man while he tries his hardest to remain noble, and accepting of everyone else, including those who persecuted him. Like NoShame’s recently released St. Francis, Padre Pio is a bio-pic that details the man’s history from his youth to his ultimate death and all the major events that happened to him in-between. In fact, his and St. Francis’ lives almost run in parallel, although Pio is well-known for an impressive number of miracles and also suffering from stigmata for exactly fifty years.

This back-story is explained in two-parts with the framework being Pio (played by Sergio Castellitto of The Big Blue) in his final days, relating his life’s story to a non-believing father who has tried to expose him as a fraud for most of his life. Aside from the stigmata, Pio was known for being very direct with his statements. During the war years, people would go to Pio for guidance asking if their loved ones were dead or alive, and he would tell them. At one point in the film, he exorcises a woman in the middle of mass, by barely lifting his hand. When done with events of this type, he simply went on going with his day-to-day chores. At one point, he decides to build a hospital to help those who are returning from World War II although it was completed much later. It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who has ever watched a melodrama to know that by the end of the film, the apprehensive Father has his opinion is changed around after private moments of his own are revealed to him by Pio. But this film isn’t about that end, it’s about Pio’s laborious journey getting there, with accusations of self-mutilations, adulterous actions, heresy and more thrown at him on an almost daily basis while the Devil himself attempts to seduce Pio on multiple occasions.

The film is a stunning work, and an epic story in itself. It’s exceptionally well directed and effects scenes when Satan visits Pio are handled with sophistication so that they do not venture into crass or exploitative nature which would take the viewer out of the film. The script should also be celebrated for making Padre Pio seem very down-to-Earth and always human even when miracles happen and he becomes popularly adored by the masses. It’s a well made, and very pretty film. I don’t think it will have the same universal appeal that St. Francis would though.

Padre Pio: Miracle Man, perhaps because of the miraculous nature, almost requires you be a believer to get the full effect. You are forced to believe that he was in fact touched by God in order to have the true sympathy and emotion to relate. While no doubt most of the audience that will purchase or rent this film either is, once were Catholic, or are they are current students of Catholicism; it would have been nice if it could better reach outside that group. This is the one place where Pio fails where St. Francis succeeds. Instead of being an excellent film, it’s merely a good one.

The DVD Presentation
Here it is. You shouldn’t put over three hours of video on one DVD. At times compression can be seen and it is a bit bothersome. Coupled with the non-anamorphic transfer the whole video arena feels like a major letdown. Audio however, plays perfectly fine. I listened to the original Italian Mono track but there is also a Spanish track available and English subtitles are included. This is sadly very sub-standard coming from NoShame.

And the Extras Are?
Still Gallery– (1:43)
Twenty-two stills are presented with the score playing in the background.

Collectible Booklet –
At least it’s comforting to know that the booklet has material of value, even if the disc doesn’t. An article called “The Life of a Saint” acts as a text bio of the real Padre Pio. We also have what seems to be the address of Pope John Paul II during Pio’s canonization. Bios are included for both director Carlo Carlei and star Sergio Castellitto. Finally there is an interview with Sergio about making the film.

With such an extreme lack of extras, I almost questioned whether or not what I was holding was in fact a NoShame DVD. The booklet is fantastic as always, but it would have been more satisfying for both quality purposes and background info to have this as a two-disc set with maybe a featurette thrown in.

The Bottom Line
Ultimately, Padre Pio is a really good movie, but it simply didn't strike a chord with me personally. Perhaps it suffers for me having so recently watched (and re-watched) St. Francis. Whatever the case, Padre Pio left me unsatisfied. It goes on a bit too long for its own good, the commercial breaks are extremely noticeable and it preached quite a bit more. However, if you are Catholic, this account of the real Padre Pio’s life, is something you will probably find to your liking. With the less than impressive video quality and lack of extras, I would recommend this more as a rental than as a purchase.