The true story of Henriette Delille, a new New Orleans creole living in the 19th century. Creolos were children born from relationships between wealthy European white men and African American women. Even though there was love in most of those relationships, marriage was not allowed. Henriette was a very religious woman, she spends her days helping people, educating children and various church duties. Henriette's father, leaves her mother after years of living together to marry a white woman of his class, it has a profound impact on the family, which now has to struggle for money. Henriette defies her mother and tradition by refusing to an arranged situation, basically like an arranged marriage but not a marriage, a glorified mistress is a better way to put it. Henriette soon meets a French Doctor Gerard Gaultier, and they soon fall in love. He wants to take her to France so they can get legally married. Henriette is torn, her mother has gone mad, her sister who was in a very loving relationship has be left penniless due to the death of her partner and rejection from his wealthy family. Henriette is also conflicted by her feelings for the church. In the end she follows her heart and becomes a nun. She later becomes the founder of the Sisters of the Holy Family.
Vanessa Williams does an incredible job. It's an inspirational film and heartbreaking all at the same time. Though Henriette did truly love Gerard, she makes the hard decision to follow her heart, which she doesn't regret in the end. A great film, I saw it when it first aired on television and have seen it several times since. Well worth a watch. It's not preachy, it's just a story about a woman choosing the right path for her life and not letting others choose her life for her.
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