A cinematic account of a milestone in the Catholic faith
On Wednesday, May 14, Rede Brasil de Televisão (RBTV) will present the film "Fátima – La Historia de un Milagro" (Fatima – The Story of a Miracle) on its Cine Rede Brasil Especial program. The film, originally released in 2020, addresses one of the most significant Marian events for Catholicism in the 20th century: the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to three shepherd children in the Portuguese town of Fatima.
The historical context and the message of peace
The plot takes place in 1917, in the midst of World War I, a period marked by uncertainty and suffering. In this setting, the siblings Francisco and Jacinta Marto, along with their cousin Lucia dos Santos, aged 10, 9, and 7, respectively, reported witnessing six apparitions of the Virgin Mary between May and October. According to their testimony, the Virgin Mary conveyed messages of prayer, penance, and conversion to achieve world peace.
From disbelief to ecclesial recognition
The film dramatizes the initial disbelief and skepticism that the children faced from their families, neighbors, and local authorities. Despite pressure and even temporary detention, the children maintained their story. After a meticulous investigation, the Catholic Church declared these apparitions worthy of faith in 1930, under the pontificate of Pius XI. This recognition transformed Fatima into one of the most important Marian pilgrimage shrines in the world, visited annually by millions of faithful.
An international cast
Directed by Italian filmmaker Marco Pontecorvo, the film features an international cast that includes Harvey Keitel, Goran Visnjic, and Brazilian actress Sônia Braga. With a running time of 113 minutes and a rating for ages 12 and up, the historical drama seeks to offer a respectful approach to the events, combining the spiritual dimension with the human context of its protagonists.
The broadcast is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on RBTV's free-to-air signal, its subscription television channels, and the station's official digital platform.
Original source: rbtv.com.br (published on May 13, 2025)
Photo: Ivan Mani on Unsplash
