Thanks for the memories!

Simply A Masterpiece

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

"Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man." (Rabindranath Tagore) "We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today." (Stacia Tauscher)I have selected two quotes which, at first sight, have little to do with the film. However, when we look deeper at this Spanish classic, the 1955 winner at Cannes and Berlin festivals, we are led to draw a conclusion: it's a movie about a CHILD, a friend of God who, by being fully himself, did not have to become mature in order to address adults and enrapture them with awe and beauty. The thing that has touched me most in this religious classic is its simplicity. A religious theme depicted in movies may absorb different manifestations of spirituality. You can preach something and you make others hear powerful slogans. But conveying values without love has occurred barely useful. Instead, you can address hearts and you make others feel it so intensely that no additional explanations or lectures are necessary. Simplicity is something that touches various people and, meanwhile, something paradoxical: we own it as innate and yet, we lose it somewhere forgetting that this simplicity of life can constantly renew us. Where can we find it more than in such an ingenious, partly naive yet touching story about a child? THE MIRACLE OF MARCELINO (1955) written by Jose Maria Sanchez Silva and directed by Ladislao Vajda is a movie of such influence. The opening sequence is marked by crowds of people who head for a town located in the picturesque landscape of Spain. One monk (Fernando Rey), however, chooses the opposite direction in his journey because he is going to visit an ill child. This is a festival of Marcelino, his feast day which makes so many people celebrate. "Do you know who Marcelino was?" becomes a question addressed to the child in her bed and to viewers in their seats alike. He will be our little protagonist - an orphan boy with such a sweet sounding name who was abandoned as a baby at the gate of a monastery and looked after by twelve Franciscan monks. The flashback brings us to the 19th century Spain and its unique story. Is it a legend? an adventure? a fairy tale or a miracle? As people helped brethren rebuild the monastery, God helps them tackle the dilemma of what future to 'invest' for a crying baby at the gate. Although there are some people who would adopt the boy, including the mayor of the town, brethren know what it means to be good (note the scene at a blacksmith's). They decide to keep him at the monastery as the thirteenth one among them and baptize him Marcelino. From this day on, a great adventure begins for all of them, an adventure filled with the supernatural, awesome experience...The film beautifully handles the core idea of a child that has a spiritual power to change people around him. Many religions stress the aspect that even little children may achieve the heights of spirituality. 5 year old Marcelino (Pablito Calvo) is such a sympathetic protagonist because he owns all childlike characteristics. When he learns, he is curious, when he prays, he is joyful, when he plays, he forgets about the world. There is a lovely scene that presents his everyday activities through a song. At the crucial moment of the film, he shows no fear - he knows who is talking to him. Yet, how can he be afraid of a Friend? Let me highlight one psychological aspect.Although Marcelino seems to have much fun in his everyday life, there is one dream that absorbs him: MOTHER. The little boy is among twelve men but he has no mum. When encountering a woman (Manuel's mother), he is lifted up. His eyes sparkle at once and he imagines the bliss of being in Manuel's shoes, bliss of having a mother (mind you the meaningful name, Manuel, in the course of later events). He immediately creates a friend in his mind whom he never meets. He plays with him, he talks to him...as long as it occurs that there is Someone who can fill this need for true friendship in his little heart. This aspect is important since there have been many critical views that religious films barely carry any psychological development. MARCELINO proves otherwise.Fantasy blends with reality, mysteries with facts and a legend with a historical background. That is also what makes this film so captivating. The scene when he climbs the 'forbidden staircase' and discovers the attic is one of the best moments in the film. Each single detail plays a role in the inner experience, explains a lot: near the stairs, we read the excerpt from Psalm 33 "Humiles Spiritu Salvabit" (God will save the humble of spirit); the close-up of Christ's hand, though considerably influenced by the cinema style of the period, supplies the moment with mystery and piety. HUMOR: Brethren's behaviors and Marcelino's tricks draw our attention and amuse us. One of the most hilarious moments are the missing slices of bread. Moreover, the town sequence offers some moments of laughter. At the same time, the artistic pluses are executed in cinematography and music. But who deserves the credit for being the best Marcelino on screen is PABLITO CALVO. He gives a powerful performance skillfully avoiding the danger of shallow sweetness. His character moves us as a saint child but still a CHILD. Note the subtlety and mystery of the scenes when Marcelino talks to Jesus. We see the boy's face marked by various feelings: from surprise and a little confusion to confidence and peaceful communion.MARCELINO PAN Y VINO is one of the most beautiful religious films ever made, a religious classic that you may watch with heartfelt attitude. Glorious simplicity where 'the small' equal to 'the greatest' in humanity.

I still remember very well the day I first saw this amazing movie. I was 13 or 14 and a teacher of mine brought us the movie to watch in the school class. For some reason, I never forgot that ending. Such a strong and emotional ending, one of those endings never to forget.This is one of the simplest films ever, but it's also an all-time great exactly because of the simplicity. In other words, its simplicity is part of its charm and charisma. Everything in this movie oozes simplicity: story, settings, sceneries, cast and even the black and white color and the strong but fabulous soundtrack.Actually, the movie does itself a favor for being in black and white. It combines well with the kind of movie and its mood. It's a beautiful, innocent and happy tale, but also a heartwarming and sad one. So simple yet so effective. There is little to be criticized.Although the cast consists of adults in their majority and they all play their roles well, little Pablito Calvo is the best. He is amazing as the title character Marcelino. The "pan y vino" is added later for a reason. He is authentic and he's got very expressive eyes and face. Even though he is cute and tiny, he's got a husky voice for a child combined with the loud tone of voice Spanish and Italian people are known for. You've also got to love Marcelino because he has that innocent and angelical face, yet he's not all that innocent. However, that only means he has character.I know that there is a remake from 1991, directed by Luigi Comencini (the same director of the amazing "Incompreso" from 1966). The remake is called "Marcellino". I never saw it, but it's kinda surprising that this one time a remake wasn't American but Italian. Americans are well known for remaking films, both foreign and their own nationality, so this comes off as an unexpected surprise.Title in Portugal: 'Marcelino Pão e Vinho'.

I have seen this beautiful movie when I was a child of 6 with my kindergarten class in my country of birth and I have never forgotten it. I am now in my fifties and live in another country and I still have such fond memories of this movie and I always will. It should be shown in schools all over the world.I now have my own movie on DVD and I would recommend it to anyone. It's a joy to watch , It would have been a better world today if they still made movies like this.I do hope to inspire others to watch the movie with their children and enjoy over and over; Its super for young and old.

The movie is proof of how low some people go to sermonize and sell their religion.The movie is so subtle and powerful most viewers don't comprehend what is happening.The Nazi's would have loved to have a movie like Marcelino in order to sell, not catholicism but the Aryan race.They might have won the war. Marcelino is propaganda at its most devious and evil.And for all those who think otherwise, take off your rose color glasses and face the facts...****SPOILER****Jesus Christ MURDERS THE LITTLE BOY!Peter