Teresa de Jesús

Teresa de Jesús follows the life of Teresa of Ahumada, a sixteenth century Spanish Carmelite whose intense mystical experiences set her apart from other nuns and brought her into conflict with religious authorities. The film presents stages from her early piety and struggles with sickness to the literary output she produced while guiding spiritual practice. It shows her efforts to reform Carmelite observance, the founding of reformed convents, and the relationships with confessors and bishops who alternately supported or challenged her. Rather than sensationalize visions, the movie concentrates on Teresa's inner resolve, her writing, and the institutional tensions created by a woman who combined personal authority with deep devotion. Scenes mix prayer, debate, daily discipline and quiet reflection throughout Spain.

Directed by Juan de Orduña and released in 1961, Teresa de Jesús was scripted by José María Pemán, Manuel Mur Oti and Antonio Vich, and stars Aurora Bautista as Teresa with José Bódalo and José María Caffarel in supporting roles.

Box office performance isn't well documented, and the film didn't register widely reported international grosses. Contemporary distribution was mainly domestic within Spain, with no readily available reliable figures for total revenue beyond limited archival references or public records at all.

Within Spanish cinema the film sits in a tradition of religious biopics that reinforced public awareness of saints. Aurora Bautista's Teresa helped shape portrayals of female sanctity and mystical life, influencing later Spanish filmmakers and adaptations while reflecting mid century attitudes toward spiritual reform in film, theatre, and scholarship today.

Critical response has been mixed, and modern ratings sit modestly, with some databases averaging around 5.5 out of 10. Viewers and critics note the film's sober treatment of mystical experience, its focus on discipline, authorship and reform, and its depiction of friction between personal faith and official church structures today.