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Portugal

Fatima: When Faith Meets Facts

August 29, 2020 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

It’s no surprise that religious faith and scientific inquiry often struggle to see eye to eye. 

Historically, there has always been a tension between believing in Divine miracles and a more pragmatic approach to the world. This division serves as the core of Italian cinematographer Marco Pontecorvo’s latest film, Fatima, which delves into the plausibility of historical accounts of spiritual visions and how that affects the people involved. 

Set in 1917, Fatima tells the story of three young children in Fátima, Portugal who report seeing visions of the Virgin Mary. Committed to their stories, their revelations inspire those who believe but also anger those in power who simply cannot understand how this could have taken place. Although their opponents demand that they recant their stories, the children remain steadfast in their belief. As word spreads of their vision, tens of thousands of religious faithful flock to the site in the hopes of seeing a miracle themselves.

Co-written and directed by Pontecorvo, Fatima is an engaging drama that puts the question of faith and its relationship to history front and centre. Though the narrative moves slowly at times, Fatima wants to take its time in wrestling with the balance between truth and fiction, especially as it relates to the Divine. Beautifully shot in sweeping landscapes, Pontecorvo uses his background in cinematography to accentuate the isolation of the people of Fatima. In doing so, he also makes them small at the hands of their surroundings, visually humbling them in the face of perceived larger spiritual forces. (It’s worth noting that, in present day conversations, scenes are filmed in close proximity which has the opposite effect by giving balance to spiritual and scientific arguments.) 

Given the film’s subject matter, much of the cast does a good job playing their characters with reverence, even if it doesn’t always feel that they have much to do. However, it’s the conversation between present day Sister Lucia (Sonia Braga) and Professor Nichols (Harvey Keitel) that provides the most energy to the film.

By telling the story in flashback, Pontecorvo is able to question the validity of Sister Lucia’s claims from a distance but also with respect. As Professor Nichols continues to press her arguments, he views her stubborn refusal to admit that she has been lying with increasing contempt yet the film does not judge her. Instead, Fatima portrays her with strength and courage for holding on for her convictions. Though Nichols may not believe her claims, what matters most in Fatima is that Sister Lucia believes it. To her, this was an encounter with the Divine and it changed the course of her life (not to mention those who also were present). 

Interestingly, Sister Lucia’s confidence in the Divine seems threatening to Professor Nichols’ more practical worldview. Through his relentless interrogation, he seems bent on pushing her to ‘confess’ not to disprove her story but rather to validate his own skepticism. In other words, as he continues to press, Nichols’ dependence on what is tangible appears rooted in his own fear to acknowledge that there are things in the world that he cannot understand. This tension between the scientific and the spiritual anchors the film and showcases the challenges in finding common ground between the two points of view. (In this way, it’s also worth noting that these conversations also reflect the tone of similar discussions within our modern-day context as well.)

In the end, Fatima is an interesting look at the events surrounding the supposed miracle that took place in Portugal. However, the real power of the film lies not within the full story of the event but whether or not such events ever took place and the consequences of that, if true.

Fatima is on VOD on August 28th, 2020.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Fatima, Goran Visnjic, Harvey Keitel, Joachim de Almeida, Marco Pontecorvo, Portugal, Sonia Braga

The Story of God with Morgan Freeman S2E3: Just Look

January 30, 2017 by J. Alan Sharrer Leave a Comment

(Photo Credit: National Geographic/Savas Georgalis)

I think there comes at least one time in every person’s life where s/he seriously contemplates if God exists. Perhaps it’s in a time where everything in life is falling apart and there is nowhere else to turn (see Job). Perhaps it’s a reflection about the words someone else has said on the subject.  It could even be a realization that something seems to be missing in life.  For me personally, it came from sitting on a vacant beach one afternoon and watching the waves crash on the shore.  My thought was simply this: “I cannot understand how someone can look at the ocean or the beauty of nature and not believe there is a God.”  The final episode of the second season of The Story of God with Morgan Freeman (Monday, 9PM/8CT Nat Geo) discusses the proof of God we all look for.  The answers have the ability to drive us right to him—if we’ll allow for it.

(Photo Credit: National Geographic/Seth Nejame)

In my opinion, this was the strongest episode this season by a large margin.  It felt like a return to the questioning, inquisitive nature that encouraged people to take an interest in faith.  Freeman showcases his usual alluring charm and sharp analysis as he introduces a number of ways people find personal proofs for God.  Sujo John’s story was fascinating—he survived 9/11 after climbing down 81 floors to escape. There’s more, but I won’t give it away.  These times of crisis will often drive us to a realization that God is real.  Of course, this also brings up the question of why God allows some to live and others to perish in situations.  John’s comment involved peace and the confidence that if he was to die, everything would be okay.

Some people see miracles as proof—the dancing of the sun in the sky in Fatima, Portugal (top photo) is one example. Some people find their proof in healing others via dead ancestors, such as villages in Namibia.  Others find God’s proof within themselves, like some Buddhists who have the ability to channel what they call “inner fire,” giving them the ability to raise their body temperatures through meditation. Many Muslims see their proof in the words of their holy book, the Qu’ran.  Even scientists aren’t immune to looking for proofs of God, as theoretical physicist Art Lovie shares by describing nature and mathematical equations that demonstrate the existence of life itself.

(Photo Credit: National Geographic/Reza Riazi)

Freeman ends the episode by noting that we’ll find God in the space between knowledge and doubt. If this is to be taken at face value, it means that somewhere within us is a space only he can fill. The French mathematician Blaise Pascal said something to that exact effect: “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing.” Christians believe the form of the filling comes only through Jesus, who is proof of God in human form. He calmed the wind and waves (Mark 4:35-41), healed people (see Matthew 15:30 for one example), and even sweat blood at one point (Luke 22:29-44).  But without Jesus’ return to life after death, his life was lived in vain.  And yet God allows nature, individual situations, and other people to help bring about the filling of the vacuum.  This way, people are without excuse regarding a proof of God, because it’s seen every day (see Romans 1:18-20).  All that has to be done is to slow down, stop, and look around to see it.

I’m looking forward to a third season of The Story of God with Morgan Freeman.  There’s way more to God than meets the eye, and the show has just scratched the surface.  Who knows what will be found as we go deeper?

Filed Under: Current Events, Reviews, Television Tagged With: Art Lovie, Buddhist, Crisis, Existence, Faith, Fatima, God, Healing, Inner Fire, Jesus, Job, Morgan Freeman, Muslim, Namibia, National Geographic, nature, Pascal, Portugal, Proof, Proof of God, Qu'ran, Sujo John, The Story of God, Theoretical Physicist

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