Podtalk: Nicole Bernardi-Reis on ‘With This Light,’ in Chicagoland on August 11th, 2023

Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 8, 2023 - 6:06pm

CHICAGO – Nicole Bernardi-Reis is a veteran local producer, yet found another calling within the film arts as co-director … with Laura Bermúdez … of “With This Light.” The documentary is the story of Sister Maria Rosa Leggoi, a Honduran nun who spent her life building and providing shelter for orphaned, poverty stricken and abused children. “With This Light,” makes its Chicagoland premiere on August 9th, 2023, and begins a one week run at the Wayfarer Theaters in Highland Park (Illinois) on August 11th. Click LIGHT for details.

During her 70 years as a nun, Sister Maria Rosa Leggol helped over 87,000 Honduran children escape poverty and violence through an ecosystem of social, educational and entrepreneurial projects, inspiring an international network of supporters to expand her work. In the midst of civil wars, economic collapse and natural disasters, she continued her charge to help young people, such as Maria and Rosa, break familial cycles of poverty and violence to create lives of their own. “With This Light” interweaves the compelling present-day stories of these teenagers with the epic life and noble actions of Sister Maria Rosa.

‘With This Light,’ Directed by Nicole Bernardi-Reis & Laura Bermúdez
Photo credit: Miraflores Films

Veteran producer-now-director Nicole Bernardi-Reis and co-director Laura Bermúdez weave a story of courage and emotion in the overview of Sister Maria Rosa, through now only her history, but and her continued work at age 93. The work of Ms. Bernardi-Reis spans from narrative shorts and feature films, documentary features and television series, taking numerous projects from development to delivery for broadcasters including PBS, A&E and The Science Channel. Her independent documentary work includes Algren (2021) and Radical Grace (2015).

In a Podtalk with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, co-director Nicole Bernardi-Reis tells of the interesting path to the film …

In a video excerpt, Nicole Bernardi-Reis talks about life changing moments …

”With This Light” Trailer …

After the Chicagoland premiere, “With This Light” will have a one week run at the Wayfarer Theaters in Highland Park, Illinois, beginning on August 11th (click link above). Click WithThisLight.com for more information. Directed by Nicole Bernardi-Reis and Laura Bermúdez. Not Rated.