Ever since I heard Steven D. Greydanus of Decentfilms.com review of the movie “The 13th Day” have been wanting to see it. This new film on Fatima was shot on a small budget, but you would never know it by the film itself.
Previously I have seen “The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima ” the 1952 film by Warner Brothers. This previous film was enjoyable and surprisingly close to the true story, though it was certainly no great move. The 13th Day by contrast is a great movie. Just about every aspect of the film I enjoyed. The choice to film most of the film in black & white with occasionally use of color fit in perfectly with the village of Fatima and setting the tone – especially the use of shadows. The use of color for aspects of the apparitions really showed the miraculous and you almost feel you are seeing Our Lady as an apparition yourself. All without the feel of overdone computer generated effects.
I found the film to be almost sacramental as it tells the story of the three children in Fatima and how the appearance of Our Lady affected their lives along with all the people around them. The film has a direct simplicity while at the same time displaying things on a higher spiritual level. The acting is consistently good along with the writing. As someone who has read a good amount on Fatima and Sr. Lucia’s books there was nothing in the film off-putting . though it is much more of a “based on a true story” than a more documentary story telling.
As often with movies there are compressions and parts of the Fatima apparitions are not covered. For example the film starts with the first apparition of Mary and not the appearance of an Angel who gave Communion to the children. The final apparition covers the spinning of the Sun, but not the appearance of the Holy Family and Mary as Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.
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6 comments
I do not know if we will ever see this in big screen in Canada.
On the lack of appearence of the Blessed Virgin in the sun: there’s probably no real way to show that without it turning mawky or too sensational. I speak as a Protestant when I say that it is most difficult to protray a miracle on such a grand level and at the same time show it as something that an outsider would believe. That said, the faithful know that something happened that day, but just what is not easy to define. What would an atheist see, what on a level to reveal the truth of things not seen but yet believed? What would a camera have shown?
Forgive me, but it’s stuff I think on. One can read of miracles and still wonder at them. It must be another thing to experience one first hand.
Got it for Christmas from my best friend who highly recommends it. Haven’t had a chance to see it yet, but am looking forward to seeing it.
I ordered the film when it was released last month….and I don’t regret it. You are right, Jeff, it is a GREAT film.
I showed it for my 8th grade CCD class on Sunday evening, and even got pizza for the kids and made it a “movie” night.
They were absolutely mesmerized by it, and I didn’t hear a peep out of them. At the end, they were speechless…it really, really caused them to think….to realize the depth, seriousness, and beauty of our faith. It was fabulous.
I highly, highly recommend it.
I have to disagree. Almost every aspect of this movie is terrible. They use narration throughout the film. You only do this with Film Noir because it’s part of the genre. Otherwise, narration treats the audience like idiots.
The lighting is atrocious. Many scenes are flooded. Everything gets washed out.
A lot of aspects of the apparitions are left out.
Dialogue is non-existent. The only memorable line is “BOILING!”
I could go on for a while about this.
Noble effort, dismal failure.
Jeff,
I’m really glad to see your review. Some were really down on it.
I had read Fr. Z’s review, as well.
I’ll get to judge it for myself very shortly. I think I’ll watch it this afternoon.