Based on the memoirs of Sister Maria Lucia de Jesus dos Santos, and thousands of independent eyewitness accounts, The 13th Day is a dramatic retelling of the experiences of three shepherd children between May and October 1917.

The 13th Day, the first major motion picture by directors Ian and Dominic Higgins, opens with Sister Maria Lucia de Jesus dos Santos recalling the events that transpired between May 13, 1917 and October 13, 1917 in the Cova da Iria (Cove of Irene) region of Fatima, Portugal. The date is 1937 and Sister Lucia, at the Convent of Ponteverde, has been asked by her superiors to write down the events that she said "changed her life forever."

Sister Lucia places the events in time, demonstrating that they took place during a period of great turmoil – the First World War in Europe and the Communist revolution in Russia.

"In Fatima," she says, "we were lucky. It seemed to us as if our lives went on as normal."

Lucia introduces us to her cousins, the other two seers, the compassionate Francisco and the younger Jacinta.

Although primarily black and white, filmmakers Ian and Dominic Higgins creatively utilize color in the film during those moments when the supernatural is breaking through to our natural world.

This first happens during the heavenly lady's first appearance to the three children on May 13, 1917.

At the first apparition, the heavenly lady asks the children to pray the Rosary every day, and asks them to return to the same place, at the same time, on the 13th of every month for five months...

What's a Site License?

Through the Ignatius Press Night at the Movies program, you can bring The 13th Day to your parish or school community! It's a great fundraising opportunity, with support, perks, a very reasonable fee.

DVDs are not licensed for public group showings, so in order to show any of these films to your parish, school or organization, you must purchase a Site License which includes additional DVDs to sell or give away. See this film's Night at the Movies listing for details.