Fatima (1997 TV Movie) User Reviews

Not very good

[Atreyu_II · 5/10 · 22 May 2011]

The story of the 3 little shepherds of Fatima (Lúcia, Francisco and Jacinta) is one of the most legendary and remarkable events of the 20th century, particularly from the early 20th century. It's a story I always found fascinating.

This movie is a pretty poor attempt of recreating this story. I know I've seen once a very old Portuguese movie in black and white about this story and I remember it being very good and liking it a lot. The colored English-language movie from 1952, while loyal to the story, wasn't completely satisfying. Besides, it's kinda weird to see an English-language movie which is a take on a mythical Portuguese story.

But this 1997 Portuguese movie is weaker. It has some wonderful scenario and the kids selected to portray the shepherds are alright in their acting. But the movie is a failure. There were a series of inconsistencies in the story, such as lame romances and silly fights in families over "forbidden romances". What were they thinking? This story was not the time or the place to put such ridiculous things. This also means that there are many unnecessary and pointless characters which serve no purpose to the story at all. And that narrator... couldn't they have chosen a less eccentric and irritating one?

The movie also doesn't possess the classic/old-fashioned environment and movie style a story like this should have, but that is also because it was poorly timed, that is, it was made at the wrong time. Late 90's movie style can't be compared to the style of golden ages of cinema. And I found plenty of other details that do not make sense in a story like this. Where is the loyalty to the way things happened in that time?

when Disney meets the church

[imbicta · 1/10 · 8 November 2009]

The story about Fátima and what ever happened those days in Cova da Iria are one of the most fascinating stories of the 20th century. However for some strange reason it was not able to move good directors and production teams to build a project around it. It sure deserves it.

As for this movie, there isn't much to tell. It takes the traditional story that has been told countless times since 1920's, with no particular insight at all. The photography is horrible and it comes to being surreal at some points. It takes the same narrative path that many others productions took. But what is really annoying about this movie is that in 1997 you do have the capacity to build a perspective about it. Well this one hasn't. Better, it does: the Disney - fairy- tale perspective that for sure will not dignify the potential of this fascinating story.

A moving story about faith to all of those who still believe in God.

[centeio69 · 4/10 · 13 May 2001]

Fátima was in 1997 a mega-production made by the italian and portuguese TV, with a casting based on some of the better portuguese actors actually in the business. The movie follows a fictional love story (that could have been better integrated in the script) that happened in the real story of the worldwide famous aparitions of Maria, mother of Jesus, to three small children who were shepherds at the time. This really happened in 1927, and Fátima has become a place for pilgrims from all over the world , including the holy Pope himself. A moving story about faith to all of those who still believe in God.

Moving film about true events that changed and are still changing the history of the world!

[marcin_kukuczka · 8/10 · 20 February 2005]

The movie FATIMA (1997) is an average film, does not draw viewers' attention thanks to great celebrities and crew. Its content, however, make it a must-see for all people who have not yet lost faith in God. To understand the movie, it is crucial to note purely historical events of Fatima. Therefore, my comments will relate to the movie as well as to the whole story.

Portugal, in the past, a great colonial power, the conqueror of faraway exotic lands ... all riches and power passed like a wind and the conquests appeared not to have brought any good to the country. There was, however, a turning point for Portuguese history: a memorable year of 1917 and miraculous events that took place about 80 miles northwards from Lisbon, in Fatima. These events, that are the major topic of Fabrizio Costa's movie occurred to be God's light for Portugal, Europe, and the whole world, including, for some time communist, Russia.

May, the 13th, 1917; three little shepherd children, Lucia (Vanessa Antunes), Jacinta (Vanessa Staiss) and Francisco (Filipe Carvalho) see a Beautiful Lady who claims to come from heaven. She tells them a mystery about later history of the world and calls for prayer and penance. Although children are persecuted and mocked, they come to the very place on every 13th of each month and the popularity of these miracles spreads. They are arrested by municipal authorities (consider a touching moment of a prayer in a prison cell), mocked by journalists; however, all changes on the memorable 13th of October...

The movie does not only concentrate on the history of the children but it also accurately presents the Portuguese reality of the early 20th century. The country experiences the cruelty of WWI, atheist government, and dangers for the Church. There are, however, people who believe in the God and listen to the message that Virgin Mary conveys through Lucia. I particularly liked the story of Margarida (Catarina Furtado) and Dario (Diogo Infante). There is one dilemma in their relationship: he is an atheist. I loved the words said by Margarida to him: "If you believe in love, you cannot reject what you find here."

There is also a clear reference to Portuguese culture, especially its music. A traditional music, Fado, can be appreciated throughout. As a result, the movie offers a wonderful look at the beautiful culture of this faraway country, the most western one in Europe.

The end of the movie, however, is not fully satisfactory; perhaps because it was made in 1997 when still not much was revealed. It shows the death of Francisco (04.04.1919) and a moving scene of Jacinta taken to hospital (died 20.02.1920). Later events are crucial for better understanding of Fatima and I would like to entail some of them below:

1930, October, the 13th: Fatima is officially proclaimed true by the Church;

1934: Lucia vows in the Order of St Dorothy,

1935: Jacinta's tomb is opened and her body occurs untouched;

1939-1945: Portugal does not suffer from WWII as the Lady promised;

1948: Lucia vows in the Carmelite Order in Coimbra. From this moment, she is known to the world as the only great witness of Fatima Apparitions.

1981, May 13th: attempt on the life of John Paul II on St Peter's Square. From that day, he deeply believes that the Mother of God saved his life (the Pope visits Fatima in 1982, 1991, 2000 and each time he meets with Sister Lucia);

1989: downfall of communism, as the Lady prophesied, and Russia open again for spiritual growth;

2000: Lucia's cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto beatified by John Paul II in Fatima ... 93 year-old Lucia present on the Holy Mass;

2005, February 13th: Sister Lucia is born to eternal life...

You can be skeptical about what you see in this movie, in most extreme cases, you can even mock it, but Fatima's message will always have an impact on world's fate. We all should thank God for these events, for the long life of Sister Lucia, and, most importantly, for the constant victory of the Immaculate Heart. As Vittorio Messori, an Italian journalist, wrote in "Corriere Della Sera": the death of sister Lucia did not bring Fatima to a closed page of history, but "opened it to new, unknown horizons..."

Understand this

[js1801 · 16 August 2019]

Father and the Son are the Parents of the Holy Spirit, if many churches are correct. The Trinity is a Family-- two Parents and an Offspring, if many churches are correct. In the Bible, our Lord Jesus Himself said, " I and the Father are One".--John 10:30 On the topic of marriage in general, according to the Bible Jesus said "they are no longer two but one..."-Matthew 19:6