Focus: A Film Review (1948-1949)

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A FILM REVIEW \ * FOCUS ORGAN OF THE CATHOLIC FILM INSTITUTE Vol. II NOVEMBER 1949 No. 11 The Fatima Film It is a strange but true fact that light is born in darkness; that joy is the child of pain; that success is the fruit of struggle. It augurs well for the Fatima film that it followed the Christian pattern of created works and was brought forth in pain. Kathleen Rowland, who has just returned from Fatima, ’phoned us some facts about the film. (i) Shooting of the film began on the first Saturday of October; almost immediately most of the unit went down with the shooting pains of a physical sickness and everything went wrong. On October 13th (an auspicious day) there was a change for the better; this symbolic day was born in brilliant sunshine, several hundred shots were taken which according to Andrew Buchanan, who is producing the film, are of excellent quality. So far a film of about 6,000 feet has been flown back and processed. If the weather holds, the remainder will be completed in about a fortnight. The premiere is scheduled for May 13th. (ii) From the beginning the authorities in Fatima were most helpful and manifested sympathy towards this British Catholic film adventure. The Bishop’s secretary took a personal interest in the film; he told Kathleen Rowland that he himself, had made four attempts to make a full-length documentary of Fatima, but had failed each time and in such ways that he believed the devil was working against him. This fact reminds us that the making of this film is a spiritual act as well as a work of art and calls for prayer and sacrifice. It can be said, truly, that it is being produced by public demand. Over 10,000 petitions, from contributors to the film, were presented to Our Lady by Fr. Burke who acted as chaplain to the film-unit. Very Rev. Fr. Hilary Carpenter, O.P., (Chairman of The Catholic Film Institute) implores this mighty army of petitioners to continue to pray to Our Lady for the success of HER film.