The Miracle of Medjugorje (1995) Run time: 105 mts.
Director- Jakov Sedlar
Cast- Martin Sheen, Michael York, Morgan Fairchild, Paul Guilfoyle, George Coe, Ray Girardin
The movie tells the story of the Marian apparitions in Medjugorje, a small village in Yugoslavia, now Bosnia and Herzegovina, in 1981. The story begins with the death of the Communist dictator, Josip Tito, and the subsequent rise of the Communist regime’s suspicion and persecution of the Catholic Church in Yugoslavia. Against this backdrop, six young Croatians report that the Virgin Mary has appeared to them on a nearby hill, and they are encouraged by Father Jozo Zovko, the vicar of the Cathedral of Mary, to continue their devotions. As the news of the apparitions spreads, a growing number of pilgrims flock to the village, prompting the Communist authorities to become increasingly concerned. The Secretary of the Communist regime, Miodrag Dobrović, condemns the visions and attempts to ban prayers outside the cathedral and force Father Jozo to stop encouraging the pilgrimages. Despite threats and harassment, Father Jozo refuses to comply with the regime’s demands, and continues to lead the faithful in prayer and worship. The situation intensifies when Father Jozo is arrested on false charges and brutally tortured. After a sham trial, he is sentenced to death by a firing squad. Despite the trauma of Father Jozo’s imprisonment and the regime’s persecution of the Catholic Church, the apparitions continue to inspire hope and faith among the faithful in Medjugorje. After the fall of the Communist regime in Yugoslavia, Father Jozo is released from prison and welcomed back to the community. Today, Medjugorje is a major center of Marian pilgrimage, drawing over a million visitors each year. “Apparition Hill” is a powerful and inspiring film that reminds us of the enduring power of faith in the face of oppression and persecution.
The Swimmers (2022) ‧ runtime: 134mts
Director: Sally El Hosaini
Cast: Nathalie Issa , Manal Issa, Ahmed Malek, Matthias Schweighöfer James Krishna Floyd, Kinda Aloush,… Nahel Tzegai, Dritan Kastrati
This film depicts the incredible true story of Olympic swimmer Yusra Mardini and her sister Sara, who gained international attention at the 2016 Rio Olympics by standing up for refugees. The movie sheds light on the struggles faced by countless refugees from war-torn Middle Eastern and African countries, who are trying to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of years of conflict and revolution. Yusra and Sara were born into a family of five near Damascus, and their father, a former swimmer with Olympic aspirations, trained them to follow in his footsteps. However, their dreams were shattered when their home was destroyed in a Russian bombing in 2015. With their father’s encouragement, the two sisters and their cousin Nizar joined a group of asylum seekers, leaving their parents and younger sister behind in Syria. They were tricked by a human trafficker into taking a dangerous journey on a leaky rubber boat, overloaded with passengers, including a nursing mother with her baby and a young boy. The boat’s motor died, leaving them stranded in the Aegean Sea. The sisters used their swimming skills to help pull the boat to safety on the island of Lesbos. After landing on Lesbos, the sisters faced xenophobia and exploitation by a trafficker who took their money. They were smuggled into Hungary, where they had to walk long distances and avoid the police before finally reaching Germany. There, they were placed in a cramped refugee camp, but eventually found a sympathetic German Olympic coach who trained Yusra for the Rio Olympics. She went on to compete as a member of the Refugee Olympic Athletes Team (ROT), in the 100m butterfly stroke. Today, Yusra works as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, while Sara volunteers as a relief worker helping other asylum seekers in Greece. The film is a testament to the bravery and resilience of refugees who have faced enormous challenges in their quest for a better life.
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