Pontecorvo's first feature directorial credit was the drama Pa-ra-da. His cinematography credits include work on HBO's Game of Thrones and Rome.
Bob Berney and Jeanne R. Berney, co-heads of the film label Picturehouse, acquired the North American rights to the film in 2019. The Berneys made the deal with James T. Volk, chairman and founder of Origin Entertainment, which produced the film in collaboration with Elysia Productions and Rose Pictures. While at Newmarket Films, Bob Berney released and oversaw the marketing strategy for Mel Gibson's 2004 film The Passion of the Christ.[8]
Filming
In May 2017 the production filmed the 100th Year Anniversary Mass in Fátima, celebrated by Pope Francis, and portions of the footage are used in the end credit sequence. Principal photography began in September 2018 and the film was entirely shot on location in Portugal.[8] Scenes were filmed in Fátima, Sesimbra, Cidadelhe (Pinhel), Tomar, Coimbra and Tapada de Mafra.[7]
On May 7, 2021, it opened in 380 AMC Theatres via their $5 Fan Faves deal.[11]
Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 57% based on 53 reviews with an average rating of 6/10. The website's critical consensus read, "Hard not to respect but difficult to love, Fatima competently dramatizes an incredible true story."[12] On Metacritic it has a score of 50% based on reviews from 14 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[13]
Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film a positive review and wrote: "In the flourishing genre of faith-based movies, this is one of the better efforts we've seen."[14]
Peter Debruge of Variety wrote: "While not especially artful, Fatima honors those who stand by their convictions. That its role models are children makes the message all the more remarkable."[15]
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