Hesburgh (2018) User Reviews

An inspiring life that my education missed

[tmbali-42315 · 10/10 · 25 October 2019]

This is the kind of person we should be holding up as an example of integrity and strength. The film does a fantastic job of showcasing his life and his effect on historical events. A must see!

never heard of this guy

[Henry_Seggerman · 10/10 · 6 May 2020]

I'm amazed that before streaming this, I'd never heard of this guy. Everybody knew about Fathers Philip and Daniel Berrigan, but this guy was obviously far more of an effective Catholic leader unafraid to speak truth to power. I'd say they should canonize him, but the Vatican is just to much of an ancient politicized bureaucracy for that to ever be contemplated.

'Aiding The Enemy' would be a better film title

[beginasyouare · 3/10 · 24 December 2020]

Fr Hesburgh being arm-in-arm with MLK is amazing, but as a priest, his career at Notre Dame overall, was secular, not priestly. At his worst, he betrayed the Catholic Church, he broke with his vow of obedience and called it good. This documentary tries to makes him look holy, blessed, a counter cultural hero. At times he probably was those things, but his life as presented here, does not get my vote of 'hero'. He more often or more strongly has likely contributed to the disintegration and immorality of universities in America. If the documentary admitted these things, or offered an opposing viewpoint, I'd have rated this film higher. The opening preview trailers on the Hesburgh DVD prep you with rapid fire impacts from the political left. These are several 'Music Box' films previews which could have been funded by wealthy Democrats. The Hesburgh documentary is very left leaning, Nancy Pelosi is insightful, Nixon the villan. Most of the talking heads and historical figures mentioned loved Fr Hesburgh without question. A bit lopsided. Hesburgh is shown in this documentary as not choosing sides, as being a bridge builder, but that's just a ruse of war.