*some sort of spoilers* though quite probably, you won't see this one soon!!!!!
The notorious "Tepeyac" was the first Mexican Movie of a bunch dealing with religious themes; and in particular with the visions of San Juan Diego (elevated by the Pope to Sainthood in 2002), who, according to the story, was visited by apparitions of the Virgin Mary, and later became bearer of a holy image that appeared in his cloak, and which is now worshipped in the Basilica de Tepeyac. Tepeyac is, in fact, the place where the apparitions took place.
Now, the movie tells us the story of San Juan Diego, and the apparitions, using Special Effects ( in the silent-era meaning, of course), and representing all the incidents as they are traditionally known. However, to make the story more palatable to the audience, a plot of sorts is introduced, where a Diplomat and his wife-to-be are separated by a special mission, whereas the Diplomat will have to take the next Steamer to Europe (to Paris, if i remember correctly) so he can make it to an important meeting. The left-behind fianceé stays tense, and worried about her beloved, when she hears a news report announcing that the boat where her beloved was leaving has been sunk (this is world War I, you know!). To help her relax, her mother starts retelling the story of the apparitions. After all the story is shown, a new telegram arrives, in which the young Diplomat anounces he is safe. To celebrate, the young couple go to the Basilica, the girl to thank our Lady of Guadalupe; the Diplomat to reflect on the historical importance of the apparitions.
A great movie, historical gem, and not to be missed if you can get a hold of it. There was only one print here in Mexico, as far as i know, which was entirely washed and restored by the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and broadcast on TV as a celebration of San Juan Diego's elevation to Sainthood.
The notorious "Tepeyac" was the first Mexican Movie of a bunch dealing with religious themes; and in particular with the visions of San Juan Diego (elevated by the Pope to Sainthood in 2002), who, according to the story, was visited by apparitions of the Virgin Mary, and later became bearer of a holy image that appeared in his cloak, and which is now worshipped in the Basilica de Tepeyac. Tepeyac is, in fact, the place where the apparitions took place.
Now, the movie tells us the story of San Juan Diego, and the apparitions, using Special Effects ( in the silent-era meaning, of course), and representing all the incidents as they are traditionally known. However, to make the story more palatable to the audience, a plot of sorts is introduced, where a Diplomat and his wife-to-be are separated by a special mission, whereas the Diplomat will have to take the next Steamer to Europe (to Paris, if i remember correctly) so he can make it to an important meeting. The left-behind fianceé stays tense, and worried about her beloved, when she hears a news report announcing that the boat where her beloved was leaving has been sunk (this is world War I, you know!). To help her relax, her mother starts retelling the story of the apparitions. After all the story is shown, a new telegram arrives, in which the young Diplomat anounces he is safe. To celebrate, the young couple go to the Basilica, the girl to thank our Lady of Guadalupe; the Diplomat to reflect on the historical importance of the apparitions.
A great movie, historical gem, and not to be missed if you can get a hold of it. There was only one print here in Mexico, as far as i know, which was entirely washed and restored by the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and broadcast on TV as a celebration of San Juan Diego's elevation to Sainthood.