Miracle of Marcelino

A Beautiful Tale
Reviewed by: Cory Giacobbe

I have never forgotten this film.

Let me emphasize broadly how wonderful this story is, without revealing critical details, climax and ending.

I saw this as a little girl. My entire grammar school viewed it together in the auditorium, and its shocking poignancy remained memorable for decades. (I'll thank the availability of home videos, for allowing me to see this film again, now).

The catalyst for the intense drama that follows is this scene: One exasperated monk, trying to instill discipline in a beloved orphan boy, conjures up a rule. He exclaims, "You must NEVER climb this stairway!" to the attic.

The monk, Brother Francisco, is the dominant parent-figure, among the twelve Italian Franciscan monks, in an Hispanic land, who have adopted the youngster, Marcelino, at infancy.

Marcelino, being a child, curious, mischievous, climbs the stairs. In the attic, what he finds there, how he responds, ultimately forces the humble,...

A Miracle of Spanish Cinema
There are many foreign films that captivated or inspired me,such as Roberto Benigni's "Life is Beautiful" and Federico Fellini's "Nights of Cabiria". But I haven't seen a foreign film so beautiful or so spiritual than Lidislao Vajda's "Miracle of Marcelino" (Marcelino pan y vino).
The Miracle of Marcelino is like a religious fairy tale that sends a message about hope and love. The film begins as an allegory where a town Franciscan monk is sent to tell a story to a terminally ill little girl about a miracle that occured several years ago. The story is based on the narration from this faithful monk.
After the Spanish civil war, twelve monks constructed their new monastary. Once they finished and settled in their new home, they had an unexpected surprise. A baby boy was given to them to take care of, inspite of their heavy work load. This boy, Marcelino, grows up to be a mischievous, but good hearted little five year old boy.
Because...

Heart Squasher!
If you are one who is seldom moved by emotions, this one will really melt your heart. These kind of movies are never ever seen nowadays. A must see for all families who want to know a little more about Jesus.

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