Triumph of the Heart is a feature film about St. Maximilian Kolbe and his companions' triumph over the darkness of Auschwitz.

I lost my faith
and wanted to die.

My name is Anthony D’Ambrosio, and I’m the writer and director of Triumph of the Heart.

I was a good Catholic. I did the right things. I even went to seminary, but I left when I fell in love.

But just before I got engaged, everything fell apart.

I got sick. An undiagnosed medical condition destroyed my life. I couldn’t sleep. My relationship ended. I could barely hold down my job. And worst of all, there was no cure—no end in sight.

The darkness closed in, and I lost my faith. I didn’t want to live anymore.

But then I remembered Kolbe.

St. Maximilian Kolbe was a priest, a writer, and a Catholic friar. During World War II, he was arrested and sent to Auschwitz for his vocal opposition to the ideologies of the day.

He watched as 10 men were condemned to die in the starvation bunker—a brutal death sentence. When one man cried out, “My wife, my children!” Kolbe stepped forward and offered his own life in exchange.

I kept coming back to that starvation bunker—the place where Kolbe chose to love in the face of unimaginable suffering. I thought about how he forged a brotherhood in that darkness, how he transformed despair into hope. Slowly, a light began to break through.

Kolbe’s story gave me a way forward, and this film is my way of sharing that light with the world.

In an age that runs from pain and avoids the cost of love, Kolbe shows us another way. He is a saint for our time—and his story is one we all need to hear.

-Anthony D’Ambrosio

We start where the world stops.

Most stories about St. Maximilian Kolbe end when he steps forward to take the place of a condemned man in Auschwitz. Our story begins there.

In Triumph of the Heart, Kolbe enters the starvation bunker alongside nine condemned men and fights to forge a brotherhood of hope from their suffering and despair.

A Saint for
the Apocalypse

St. Maximilian Kolbe was a Renaissance man—a friar, a founder, a creator. He built a thriving friary, launched a magazine that reached millions, pioneered advancements in modern press technology, and even organized the first public fire station run by a religious order.

But when faced with a truly apocalyptic war, Kolbe showed us something even greater: that Christian love can conquer the deepest horrors of the human condition. In the face of unimaginable suffering, Kolbe didn’t retreat—he stepped forward, offering his life to save another.

Join our newsletter to receive exclusive opportunities to watch and support the film.

 FAQs

  • Coming Fall 2025

  • Our plan is to release the movie in theaters and make it available on streaming platforms.

    If you want to help get this film get to theaters, you can organize your own pre-screening .

  • There are several ways to support our film and get involved. You can support us through organizing a pre-screening, donations, by applying for one of our open positions, by joining our volunteer team, or simply by telling your friends and community about our film, and by praying for our team!

  • You can Join TOTH Militia and Organize a Pre-Screening.

    Tell your friends and community about our film! Word of mouth outreach is one of the most powerful ways to reach more people.

    Also, once we ramp up our marketing efforts we will be looking for press and media connections. If you have any press connections that you'd like to share with us, please fill out our Press Inquiry Form.