Le miracle de Fatima

Although there is a considerable number of religious movies of the 1950s, this one stands out as quite unique and extraordinary due to its captivating content...

1917...the horror of WWI does not manage to spread totally with its destruction and death. Deep within the Portuguese Cova Da Iria, in the land ignored by the new corrupted masonic government (consider Alfonso Costa and the 1910 events), on May 13th a beautiful Lady from Heaven appears to three little children, Lucia (10), Francisco (9) and Jacinta (7). She asks them to come to the very place on every thirteenth day of consecutive months, asks them to offer sacrifices for human conversion and ... promises to give them a miracle. The news spread not only to nearby towns but to all Portugal. Parents fear and doubt; believers ask the children to pray; skeptics mock; Masonic mayor arrests them; yet, no one predicts that the place would become one of the most magnificent sanctuaries visited by a few pontiffs and millions of pilgrims from all over the world...

This movie was for long considered to be the most popular film about the events. However, more recently, for more than ten years, it has been compared to another film, FATIMA (1997) by Fabrizio Costa. Yet, the new version did not manage to eliminate Brahms' film from the list of best religious films; it did, however, lower its value due to quite obvious reasons. While THE MIRACLE OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA has become quite clichéd, Costa's movie more convincingly addresses modern viewers thanks to a more developed interpretation of the events as well as well depicted plots. Although my intention isn't to compare the two films, I have to state clearly that there are three obvious facts that one cannot ignore about this 1950s' production.

Firstly, it is a typical Hollywood view of religion (which is not necessarily wrong but very condensed and not much thought provoking). Secondly, it is a movie made at the time when not much was yet revealed of what Fatima Apparitions are about. What I mean by this, in particular, is the Pontiff of John Paul II so closely linked to the Message of Fatima...here, naturally, nothing could be said about the Pontiff in 1952, which makes it now pretty dated a view of these highly prophetic apparitions. Thirdly, it is a typical story-like content where viewers are supplied with facts in a linear manner rather than a desirable insight into the Message: penance, sacrifice, conversion, peace. Although that view does not necessarily refer to the entire movie (there are some moments that clearly constitute exception to the highlighted factors), those absorb the viewer in majority. Nevertheless, it would be highly unjust not to see the merits of the film.

THE MIRACLE OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA belongs to few of such films that nicely presents the historic characters that were part of the events. Here, let me start from the Seers of Fatima: it seems (and that is very accurate) that our attention is called upon Lucia dos Santos (Susan Whitney), who was the only child who talked with the Lady and whom Virgin Mary gave the three secrets in full (Jacinta saw and heard Mary while Francisco only saw Her but didn't hear anything). We see Lucia as a nice good hearted girl who is the oldest and... spiritually most mature (being 10 years old), who has faith but also doubts (if you read MEMOIRS written by Sister Lucy (1907-2005), you will find a lot about those doubts that she faced from May till October 1917). Jacinta and Francisco Marto are showed as if in the shadow of Lucia (pity, there is so little about their sacrifices for sinners) but the viewer gets a perfect view of their virtues at the scene with the cruel mayor of Ourem, Arturo Dos Santos (Frank Silvera). At the face of this evil man, his tricks and his arrogance, their courage, faith, confidence and goodness shine forth.

When we consider other characters, most of them are presented clearly and accurately, including Maria Rosa (Angela Clarke), Lucia's mother who had greatest doubts about the apparitions till the end of her life because of her reasonable modesty. She thought that her family was not worthy being granted such a grace. Yet, Love proves something different... I would have doubts concerning the portrayal of Antonio Dos Santos (Jay Novello), Lucia's father. According to her aforementioned MEMOIRS, her father had many friends in the village, they played cards in their free time and drank wine (which is absolutely common in the southern countries of hot climates). But being deeply religious, he wasn't an alcohol addict who would not attend Mass and plan to sell land depriving the family of means to live. Therefore, it is a serious distortion that may badly influence the view of the Dos Santos family which.

Nevertheless, the fact that this movie was made as early as the 1950s proves to us the interest in the miraculous events at Cova Da Iria which took place at the dawn of the 20th century. And it is good that it was made, that still many people in various countries see it and think about how the light of faith illumines the darkest hours of history.

But, neither much words nor action will help here. Such films are there rather to experience; they are there to change something in you. At the final scene, Sister Lucy seems to give an answer to what it means to be happy: 'Console Jesus and Mary and make sacrifices for the reparation of sins,' that is the story of the little shepherd Children, the story of their short but fruitful lives that have touched millions of people throughout the world. Isn't that the story of Love at the face of which only a fool would say that there is no God?

A copy of this film was given to me as a gift. I would've never thought to have watched this, but all I can say after viewing this is WOW! This film is almost flawless. A great, spiritual story (and a true one), and all the actors are really good, especially the man who plays 'Hugo'. Seek this one out. You won't regret it.

In 1917, three shepherd children living just outside Fatima , Portugal have visions of a lovely lady in a cloud . It happened on May 13, 1917, ten year old Lúcia Santos (Susan Whitney) and her cousins Jacinta (Sherry Jackson) and Francisco Marto were herding sheep at a location known as the Cova Da Iria near their home village of Fátima, Portugal . The anticlerical government carried out a communist state coup (1910) and they wish to squelch the Church ; then reports of religious experiences are cause for serious concern . Yet the children stand by their story, and holy Virgen brings a holy message . But an administrator of the town (Frank Silvera) detains the children though they are supported by Father Ferreira (Richard Hale) . While , a skeptical man named Hugo Da Silva (personified by Gilbert Roland) helps them .

This pleasant picture contains a message of peace and hope for humanity . This is a good film with a religious plot and memorable final in which the Virgen proves her reality with a spectacular miracle that is seen by everyone present . The movie displays a colorful and evocative cinematography by Edwin DuPar . Emotive as well as sensitive musical score by the classical Max Steiner , nominated Oscar Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic film . The motion picture was well directed by John Brahm who directed two masterpieces back-to-back: the stylish and moody 'Jack the Ripper' and, in a similar vein, ¨Handover street¨(1945), a Gothic melodrama about insanity and murder, set in Victorian London. Another of Brahm's films, not in the same league as the aforementioned, but nonetheless quite enjoyable, is ¨The Mad Magician¨ (1954). Other pictures dealing with historical facts about Fatima are : ¨La Señora De Fatima¨(1951) by Rafael Gil with Inés Orsini as Lucía Abóbora , Fernando Rey , Tito Junco , José María Lado and ¨Fatima¨ (1997) (TV) by Fabrizio Coasta with Joaquin De Almeida , Omero Antonutti and Vanessa Artunes as Lucia .

The historical events are the following : the Spring and Summer of 1916, three little shepherd children, Lucia Santos and her two cousins, Jacinta and Francisco Marto, experienced the visitation of an Angel on three separate occasions. The Angel appeared to them as they watched their sheep, teaching them specific prayers to pray, to make sacrifices, and to spend time in adoration of the Lord. These three visits were apparently to prepare the children for the visitations of the Blessed Mother, which were to follow in 1917.There was built a Chapel of Apparitions, at the place where the Fátima apparitions . Lúcia described seeing a woman "brighter than the sun, shedding rays of light clearer and stronger than a crystal ball filled with the most sparkling water and pierced by the burning rays of the sun". Astonished they ran back to their village and told everyone. Further appearances were reported to have taken place on the thirteenth day of the month in June and July. In these, the woman asked the children to do penance and Acts of Reparation as well as making personal sacrifices to save sinners. The children subsequently wore tight cords around their waists to cause themselves pain, performed self-flagellation using stinging nettles, abstained from drinking water on hot days, and performed other works of penance. According to Lúcia's account, in the course of her appearances, the woman confided to the children three secrets, now known as the Three Secrets of Fátima . Thousands of people flocked to Fátima and Aljustrel in the following months, drawn by reports of visions and miracles. On August 13, 1917, the provincial administrator Artur Santos believing that the events were politically disruptive, intercepted and jailed the children before they could reach the Cova da Iria that day. Prisoners held with them in the provincial jail later testified that the children, while upset, were first consoled by the inmates, and later led them in praying the rosary. The administrator interrogated the children and tried unsuccessfully to get them to divulge the contents of the secrets. In the process, he threatened the children, saying he would boil them in a pot of oil, one by one unless they confessed. The children refused, but Lúcia told him everything short of the secrets, and offered to ask the Lady for permission to tell the Administrator the secrets. That month, instead of the usual apparition in the Cova da Iria on the 13th, the children reported that they saw the Virgin Mary on 15 August, the Feast of the Assumption, at nearby Valinhos.[3]As early as July 1917 it was claimed that the Virgin Mary had promised a miracle for the last of her apparitions on October 13, so that all would believe. What happened then became known as the "Miracle of the Sun". A crowd believed to number approximately 70,000, including newspaper reporters and photographers, gathered at the Cova da Iria. The incessant rain had finally ceased and a thin layer of clouds cloaked the silver disc of the sun. Lúcia, moved by what she said was an interior impulse, called out to the crowd to look at the sun. Witnesses later spoke of the sun appearing to change colors and rotate like a wheel.

This is a splendid, meaningful film in the spiritual genre which details the visions claimed by three Portuguese children during the height of tumultuous events in Europe preceding the rise of communism in Russia. The film briefly underscores the persecution of the Catholic Church in Portugal at the turn of the last century. Enough humor, vis a vis the fictitious character "Hugo" the local village thief, inebriate and film-flam artist, is injected into the movie which offsets the sombre subject matter. The children are at first disbelieved, and the local priest fears further persecution at the hands of the local authorities should the details of the children's visions come to light. The children are hounded by the authorities who attempt to compel them to recant, all to no avail. Hugo tries to make money out of the venture by selling 'relics' to the thousands of pilgrims who flock to the site in search of a miracle. The film concludes with the 'vision of the sun' whirling and descending to the earth during a violent rainstorm, after which it returns to its designated spot in the heavens. A fine family film. Well cast and thoroughly delightful to watch.

Being from Portugal, and having seen both films, no wonder why real-life Soror Lucia at the time didn't like the 1951 movie... it's lyrically beautiful and most of the movie was shot in Portugal, but it doesn't make up for the reality that it was. At least, the actors tried the best they could for making a nice movie.

The 1997 movie (called "Fátima", and originally conceived for the television broadcasting) itself, being Portuguese and made there, gives a much better accuracy of what really was the miracle of Fátima, the destiny of the chosen Lúcia, Jacinta and Francisco; and even including secondary stories (wondering if that secondary story was real or not). The parting of Jacinta and Francisco, while is not included in the 1951 movie, it is in the 2001 movie, with great drama.

However, both are two must-see movies...;)

You'll really believe on the miracle which conquered millions of people in Portugal :)