Movie invites viewers to not fear the truth about God

Friday, Dec. 05, 2014

PROVO — A movie featuring people who have experienced spiritual conversions in which the Virgin Mary played an integral part will receive a special screening in Orem, thanks to the efforts of several parishioners of Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish in Orem.

Mary’s Land (Tierra de Maria) is directed by Juan Manuel Cotelo, who describes the movie as part documentary, part fiction. It is “not an act of faith. This movie is, in simple words, an invitation. … an invitation, simple and honest, to not be afraid to know the truth about God.”

People in today’s world need to hear the kind of stories that are told in the film, said Ricardo López, a parishioner at Saint Francis of Assisi, who contacted the producers about bringing the movie to Utah after several of his fellow parishioners said they would like to see it.

Then López got an email from the producer asking if he thought there would be some interest in the movie in Utah.

“I told her that just in our small communities in the parish there are between 500 and 700 people, and she asked me which movie theater would be better, so I said in Provo,” said López.

The movie is dedicated to people who don’t give themselves a chance to know the truth about God and the truth about men, Cotelo said.

“The plot is based as an investigation, as a search about the people who still trust in heaven, as a search for those who preach that they talk with Jesus Christ,” said Cotelo.

He suggests that people not be afraid of the truth narrated through the movie.

“If it’s a lie, then we will be living without God, but if it becomes true, we shouldn’t be afraid to change what we need to change. For me it’s very important that it’s an invitation to the truth,” said Cotelo, adding that nowadays, more than ever, the shout of the world is “You don’t need God; you don’t need to respect the commandments. … Why I am not going to kill that unborn child that is sick? … Why I shouldn’t steal? … Well, if I don’t get caught, why not? … What is that, that I have to forgive? No, I don’t; I better get revenge. … What is that, be of service to others? … No, no, I want to be served.”

“So we see that the world in which the commandments have been blown, it’s a sad world,” Cotelo said. “War is everywhere, not only in the countries; it is in the families, in the people. … Don’t you think there is a recipe that will give us peace, that will show us how to live as brothers and sisters, and we have shed it away?”

While the movie is not an act of faith, “people shouldn’t  be afraid to know God’s recipes; they work,” he said. “There is no one person that can say ‘I have followed and listened to Christ, and that has ruined my life.’”

Mary’s Land is a 111-minute movie that was filmed in Spain, Great Britain, Colombia, Mexico, the United States, France, Portugal and Bosnia. Since it was first released it has been played in 21 countries throughout the world.

On Dec. 12 Mary’s Land will show at Cinemark Provo in English and Spanish. 

For information about the movie, visit www.maryslandmovie.com.