It’s quite interesting that this story of post revolutionary Portugal shows the church as a bastion of freedom when barely a generation before it was the epitome of state control and dogmatic domination! Whilst that wheel has definitely turned as far as the state is concerned, this agrarian population remain as loyal to the faith of their forbears, but not faithful enough and so an apparition visits three young children who visit a secluded cove near their village of Fatima. She communicates the displeasure of God in his flock and suggests that they must suffer to expunge some of mankind’s sins. Enthusiastically, these youngsters agree but when word of their vision spreads, the local church are sceptical and the parents are worried that the authoritarian government will learn of their claims. Indeed, what ensues sees a battle for these innocent children against a whole plethora of people either ideologically or politically unimpressed with the Virgin Mary’s purported visit. Gilbert Roland is the star in the film, but it’s the three young children who are the stars of it. Their gentle beliefs and vulnerability contrasts poignantly with their determination to stick to their truths - however inconvenient, or even violent, that may be. The population are largely devoid of hope, and so all too readily pin their hopes on a promised miracle - but will it come or are these three just making things up? The film is nicely filmed with some rousing choral music to accompany the slowly advancing plot, and it’s based on true-life events which adds a little to claims that could never be established as fact but that certainly provided solace and succour to a people whose dream of a new Republic had merely seen new people dominate them - only with different axes to grind and grudges to avenge. Sure, it is sentimental and offers a very soft-focus look at religiosity, but I’m as sceptical as the next man and I still found it offered a little of just why some perfectly intelligent people believe.
