Fatima
Review of “Fatima” – a Picturehouse film. Review by Penny Nair Price
Pilgrims flock to the site of the apparition of The Virgin Mary.
Known as “The Miracle of the Sun”, this true story of sightings of an apparition of The Virgin Mary eventually brought thousands to Fatima as word originally spread through Portugal in 1917. This time of course is during the First World War. It was three young shepherds who first saw the apparition and it caused anger amongst officials and remonstrations to those who first saw the sight. It is a subject which has been covered before including in films in 1938 and 1951. Fatima is now a place famous for pilgrimages there. People come from all over the world to visit.
The young 10 year old shepherdess and her two young cousins who first saw the vision are advised, “people can be jealous of your special gifts”.
“Fatima” is directed by Marco Pontecorvo, who has also worked on “Game of Thrones” and “Rome”. It stars Joaquim de Almeida, Goran Visnjic, Harvey Keitel, Sonia Braga, Stephanie Gil and Lucia Moniz. The screenplay is by Barbara Nicolosi, Marco Pontecorvo and Valerio D’Annunzio and the genre is Christian Mysticism. The “mystery lady from heaven” in the wild windy natural setting where shepherds are tending their sheep lends itself well to the camera.
“If we do not stop insulting God there will be a war worse than this one” is one of the quotes from the film. “Sinners” are urged to convert to help make the world a better place.
Finally – the beauty of this story is aided by ones imagination. Seeing a stunningly mesmerising image of The Virgin Mary would make life very special indeed and word of mouth was the first way the apparition’s appearance was communicated.
Running time is I hour 53 minutes. Fatima is available on Netflix.
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