Fatima the Movie: A Review

This post for Fatima the Movie is sponsored by Graf-Martin Communications on behalf of Elevation Pictures. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Fatima the movie is available in Canada on Demand starting on August 28th. I got a sneak peek ahead of time to view this movie and I’m telling you right now, you are going to want to see this, Catholic or not!

Fatima the Movie: A Message of Hope

God has been speaking to me a lot this year. Or I guess it’s more that I’m listening more to Him because I am sure He speaks to me all the time. One way He particularly grabbed my attention was through Fatima the Movie.

This year hasn’t been easy for any of us. But Fatima the Movie delivers the hope-filled message we all need right now.

Being a Catholic (a Catholic school teacher to boot), I knew of Our Lady of Fatima, but I didn’t know the whole story. I knew that a miracle took place and that Mary had appeared there, but that was pretty much the extent of my knowledge.

Check out the official movie trailer above. You’ll instantly see the beauty of this movie.

Honestly, part of me wishes I had known all of the details sooner. Then again, this movie presents them in such a beautiful, faith-filled way that I’m not sure it could have come to me in a more meaningful manner.

In 1917, just outside of Fatima, Portugal a 10 year old girl and two of her younger cousins witness appearances of the Virgin Mary. These facts alone put me in awe of the story. It happened multiple times. It happened to children.

The children of the Fatima miracle are an example of faith to us all.

I’ll take you back to the story in a moment, but I just want to pause to reflect on this. So many times my faith is – well, to be honest – weak. It doesn’t stand up to the day-to-day challenges of life.

I question. I resist. Often, I complain that God isn’t speaking to me, and yet, in my heart, I always know that it’s me. I’m not listening.

So, there was the Virgin Mary appearing in Fatima to children. And those children received her with open arms and open hearts. They listened. They believed. Those children did what often comes with such difficulty for me – they stood strong in their faith and worked hard to do what Mary asked of them.

Crowds of people looking for hope gathered in Fatima.

Mary’s message is about World War I. She tells them that only through faith, prayer, and suffering will the end of the war come about. The children take her message to heart.

Soon, the news spreads of the visitations and crowds begin to gather in the area. People come looking for hope and healing in a time of world war. They, too, want to witness a miracle.

A secular government, however, tries to silence the children. They want them to recant their stories and to proclaim them as made-up lies. The crowds and their faith are disruptive to the social order.

A day on which many lives were changed

This all culminates in a miracle known as the Miracle of the Sun. After appearing to the children on the 13th of each month beginning in May, the appearances of Our Lady ended with this miracle.

Tens of thousands of people were in attendance on that day, October 13, 1917. Many lives were changed by what they saw and experienced.

Since then, millions of people have taken the pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine located in Fatima, Portugal every year. Many keep Our Lady of Fatima statues and images in their homes as a reminder of these miracles. And many incorporate the Fatima prayer into their praying of the Rosary.

This is the impact of these important historical events for Catholics and many others. Fatima the Movie is a must-see for all Catholics and for anyone who is interested in learning more about this event.

With its stunning scenery (filmed on location in Portugal) and costuming, the overall “feel” of the movie is completely suited and appropriate to the movie and the story line. I was in awe of the simplicity and beauty of this movie as a visual event.

What really made it stand out for me though was the acting. With well-known actors like Harvey Keitel, Goran Visnjic, Sonia Braga, and Joaqim de Almeida, one might think that they were the reasons for my love of this movie (beyond just subject matter).

All of the acting seemed perfectly cast for me. Truly though, the stars for me were the three children. Their stellar performances pulled me into this story as an almost immersive experience and greatly increased the impact I felt by it.

GIVEAWAY FOR FATIMA THE MOVIE CODES

Want to see Fatima the Movie for yourself? Be sure to enter below for your chance to win 1 of 3 codes to be able to view the movie at home.

Offer valid only for residents of Canada. Giveaway ends August 31st, 2020 at 11:59 pm Eastern. Read further terms and conditions on the giveaway form.

Fatima the movie is available in Canada on Demand starting on August 28th.

Where to watch at home:

BELL
CINEPLEX STORE
COGECO
ROGERS
SHAW
TELUS
VIDEOTRON

FATIMA RESOURCES AVAILABLE

There are some AMAZING Fatima resources available through the official website: coloring pages, word searches, story sheets, how to pray the rosary and more!