Advertisement
Friday March 20 5:15 pm - 9:00 pmThe Casa Peace Ministry
"Triumph of the Heart"
"D’Ambrosio’s film powerfully reorients us and reminds us — not only of what our lives can mean but of the powerful role art can play in restoring what our culture has lost.” ~ The Federalist, February 10, 2025
Anthony D’Ambrosio’s “Triumph of the Heart” confronts us with a question that has haunted human consciousness since we first contemplated mortality: what remains when everything is stripped away? Set within the suffocating confines of Auschwitz’s starvation bunker during August 1941, this biographical drama excavates the final two weeks of St. Maximilian Kolbe’s life, the Polish Franciscan priest who volunteered to die in place of a fellow prisoner.
The film refuses easy sanctification. Shot on location in Poland with a predominantly Polish cast led by Marcin Kwasny as Kolbe, D’Ambrosio constructs his narrative around an ensemble of condemned men who represent the fractured soul of wartime Poland: the patriot, the laborer, the communist, the Jew, the atheist. Each becomes a mirror reflecting different aspects of human response to absolute desolation.
This is cinema that demands confrontation with darkness. The bunker becomes both literal prison and metaphysical crucible, where ten men face the erasure of their humanity. Yet within this descent into the abyss, D’Ambrosio discovers something that resists destruction. The film explores how dignity persists when dignity should be impossible, how hope can emerge from hopelessness without betraying the reality of suffering.
Though Kolbe’s story of sacrificing himself for another prisoner is well-known, less familiar are the stories of his nine companions and the period of time spent in the bunker. Through storytelling through flashbacks, we befriend these men alongside Kolbe and learn of their lives before the war. We are inspired by their depth of character while facing unimaginable suffering. “Triumph of the Heart” grapples with fundamental questions about the nature of victory and defeat. The film suggests that true triumph might exist in maintaining one’s humanity when humanity itself is under assault.
To read the full review: https://gazettely.com/2025/09/entertainment/triumph-of-the-heart-review/
The film premiered in Poland and the United States at select locations in September 2025. The film received a best actor award for Marcin Kwasny from the Terni Religion International Film Festival and best film award from Hard Faith. Inc.
Content Advisory: age 14+/adults only, mature subject matter from the Auschwitz concentration camp. Intense themes including violence, torture, and death, with a PG-13 equivalent rating advised. While not officially rated, it is not suitable for children under 13.
Fee: $15 per person including film, pizza/popcorn & additional refreshments. Pre-registration required.
Doors open at 5:15 pm. Registration closes Wednesday, March 18, at 7 pm.
Email lora@thecasa for scholarship information.
Sign Up By Wed, Mar 18 at 7:00 pm
https://frc.retreatportal.com/calendar/event?programcode=26SCN77457
Advertisement
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
5802 E Lincoln Dr, Paradise Valley, AZ, United States, Arizona 85253
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
