I was mesmerized watching Fatima (Universal/Picturehouse), a true story about the visitation of The Holy Mother of the Rosary to three children in Portugal! Although I saw an original film when I was a kid in the 1950’s (The Miracle of The Lady of Fatima- Warner Bros. – 1952), it was embellished with a heavenly glow of the Virgin floating in sparkling clouds. This new film strips away all elaborate effects and just shows the Virgin as the camera pans backward and the vision is then seen on screen talking to the children! The film had great performances and this version included the turmoil of crowed streets to see the seekers of the miracle! The church and government was not amused and was forcing the three children to denounce such a sight and was told to confess it was a made up visitation! The children refused to do this and caused crowds to surround the children’s houses! Drama, miracles and the request to say the rosary everyday still holds up today. Perhaps all crime and virus conditions would just fade away. PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! The new film takes place in 1917, outside the parish of Fátima, Portugal, a 10-year-old girl and her two younger cousins witness multiple visitations of the Virgin Mary, who tells them that only prayer and suffering will bring an end to World War I. As secularist government officials and Church leaders try to force the children to recant their story, word of the sighting spreads across the country, inspiring religious pilgrims to flock to the site in hopes of witnessing a miracle. What they experience will transform their quiet lives and bring the attention of a world yearning for peace. Based on real-life events and starring Joaquim de Almeida ("Queen of the South"), Goran Visnjić (Beginners), Stephanie Gil (Terminator: Dark Fate) and Lúcia Moniz (Love, Actually), with Sônia Braga (Aquarius) and Harvey Keitel (The Piano, The Irishman), Fatima is an uplifting story about the power of faith. A must see family event! PG-13 (for some strong violence and disturbing images). 113 Minutes. *****. ________
