Heartland Film Festival: Hesburgh

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In the introduction to the film Hesburgh, one of the narrators says that Reverend Theodore Martin Hesburgh was one of the most notable people of the 20th Century, to be mentioned with the likes of names such as John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Why, then, had I never heard of him? More importantly, was this extraordinary claim something that could hold substance? After watching this nearly two-hour documentary on Hesburgh’s life, the answer to that question is an emphatic “yes.”

Hesburgh was best known for his role as the president of the University of Notre Dame, but his ties in the spheres of political and social influences ran deeper than that of a school president. Hesburgh was well respected as a Catholic priest and since he was a “man of the cloth,” he was often able to play the role of mediator in some of the most pivotal times in US history. Because he had such an unbiased opinion and was a considered a holy man, he was trusted by some of the most important and influential people of the 20th Century. Some of the big names that I mentioned in the opening paragraph did more than just brush shoulders with Mr. Hesburgh, they trusted him as an advisor.

For a man who had dedicated his life’s work to God, some of the most impactful moments of the 20th Century, such as the nuclear arms race, the Civil Rights movement, and the Vietnam War, saw Hesburgh’s influence in some capacity. Without ruining the film for those who plan on seeing it during the Heartland Film Festival, it would behoove you to learn more about this man and the impact he had on this world.

Not only was Hesburgh a nice little history lesson, I now know a little bit more about Hoosier history (as Notre Dame is one of the most respected institutions in our state). I also learned about a man who, during his lifetime, was recipient of 150 honorary degrees, 16 presidential appointments, and recipient of both the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.

Hesburgh is a carefully stitched, entertainingly narrated documentary directed by Patrick Creaddon. It can be seen during the 2018 Heartland Film Festival.