Suggested Reading by Zia H Shah MD, Chief Editor of the Muslim Times:
Movie: Ramanujan: A Prophet of Mathematics Born in a Hindu Family
Video: Laughter is the best cure for psychics
Neurobiology of Dreams and Revelation
Al Aleem: The Bestower of true dreams
The Nature of Revelation
True Nature of Divine Revelations
We Dream, Therefore God Is!
Fátima is a 2020 faith-based drama film directed by Marco Pontecorvo. It stars Joaquim de Almeida, Goran Visnjic, Harvey Keitel, Sônia Braga, Stephanie Gil, and Lúcia Moniz.
The film, based on the 1917 Our Lady of Fátima events, features the original song “Gratia Plena” (“Full of Grace”), performed by Andrea Bocelli and composed by Italian composer Paolo Buonvino.[3]
| Fátima | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Marco Pontecorvo |
| Produced by | Gerardo FernandesJames T. VolkDick LylesStefano BuonoMaribel Lopera SierraMarco PontecorvoRose GanguzzaNatasha Howes |
| Screenplay by | Marco PontecorvoValerio D’Annunzio |
| Story by | Barbara Nicolosi |
| Starring | Joaquim de AlmeidaGoran VisnjicStephanie GilAlejandra HowardJorge LamelasLúcia MonizMarco d’AlmeidaJoana RibeiroHarvey KeitelSônia Braga |
| Cinematography | Vincenzo Carpineta |
| Edited by | Alessio Doglione |
| Production companies | Origin Entertainment [1]Elysia ProductionsRose Pictures |
| Distributed by | Picturehouse |
| Release date | August 28, 2020[2] |
| Country | United States, Portugal |
| Language | English |
Contents
Plot
A 10-year-old shepherd, Lúcia dos Santos, and her two young cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto, report having received apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fátima, Portugal, circa 1917. Their revelations inspire believers but anger officials of both the Catholic Church and the secular government, who try to force them to recant their story. As word of their prophecy spreads, tens of thousands of religious pilgrims flock to the site to witness what became known as the Miracle of the Sun.
Cast
- Joaquim de Almeida as Father Ferreira
- Goran Visnjic as Arturo[4]
- Stephanie Gil as young Lúcia dos Santos[5]
- Alejandra Howard as Lúcia’s cousin Jacinta Marto
- Jorge Lamelas as Lúcia’s cousin Francisco Marto[5]
- Lúcia Moniz as Maria Rosa
- Marco d’Almeida as António
- Joana Ribeiro as the Virgin Mary
- Sônia Braga as Sister Lúcia (Lúcia dos Santos later in life)[5]
- Harvey Keitel as Professor Nichols[6]
Production
Development
Pontecorvo’s first feature directorial credit was the drama Pa-ra-da. His cinematography credits include work on HBO’s Game of Thrones and Rome.
Bob Berney and Jeanne R. Berney, co-heads of the film label Picturehouse, acquired the North American rights to the film in 2019. The Berneys made the deal with James T. Volk, chairman and founder of Origin Entertainment, which produced the film in collaboration with Elysia Productions and Rose Pictures. While at Newmarket Films, Bob Berney released and oversaw the marketing strategy for Mel Gibson‘s 2004 film The Passion of the Christ.[6]
Filming
In May 2017 the production filmed the 100th Year Anniversary Mass in Fátima, celebrated by Pope Francis, and portions of the footage are used in the end credit sequence. Principal photography began in September 2018 and the film was entirely shot on location in Portugal.[6] Scenes were filmed in Fátima, Sesimbra, Cidadelhe (Pinhel), Tomar, Coimbra and Tapada de Mafra.[5]
Release
Fatima was released in select theaters and digitally through Premium Video on demand on August 28, 2020, by Picturehouse.[2] The film was originally scheduled to release on April 24,[6] but it was later postponed till August 14, 2020, and again until August 28, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[7]
Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 63% based on 40 reviews. The website’s critical consensus read, “Hard not to respect but difficult to love, Fatima competently dramatizes an incredible true story.”[8] On Metacritic it has a score of 51% based on reviews from 10 critics, indicating “mixed or average reviews.”[9]
Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film a positive review and wrote: “In the flourishing genre of faith-based movies, this is one of the better efforts we’ve seen. “[10] Peter Debruge of Variety wrote: “While not especially artful, Fatima honors those who stand by their convictions. That its role models are children makes the message all the more remarkable.”[11]
See also
- 2020 in film
- The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima, 1952 film
- The Song of Bernadette, 1943 film
Categories: Bible, Catholic Church, Catholicism, Catholics, Christianity, Documentary or movie, Films, Interfaith tolerance, Movie, Quran, Religion, Revelation, Revelation
“And when trouble befalls a man, he calls on Us, lying on his side, or sitting, or standing; but when We have removed his trouble from him, he goes his way as though he had never called on Us for the removal of the trouble that befell him. Thus it is that the doings of the extravagant are given a fair appearance in their eyes.” (Al Quran 10:12)
“He it is Who enables you to journey through land and sea until, when you are on board the ships and they sail with them with a fair breeze and they rejoice in it, there overtakes them (the ships) a violent wind and the waves come on them from every side and they think they are encompassed, then they call upon Allah, purifying their religion for Him, saying, ‘If Thou deliver us from this, we will surely be of the thankful.’
But when He has delivered them, lo! they begin to commit excesses in the earth wrongfully. O ye men, your excesses are only against your own selves. Have the enjoyment of the present life. Then to Us shall be your return; and We will inform you of what you used to do.” (Al Quran 10:22-23)
“And when harm touches you on the sea, all those whom you call upon, except Him, become lost to you. But when He brings you safe to land, you turn aside; and man is very ungrateful. Do you then feel secure that He will not cause you to sink in the side of the land or send against you a violent sandstorm and then you will find no guardian for yourselves? Or, do you feel secure that He will not send you back therein a second time, and then send against you as a storm-blast, and drown you because of your disbelief? You will then find therein no helper for yourselves against Us.” (Al Quran 17:67-69)