Receiving mixed reactions since its release, The Vatican Deception is an insightful documentary, directed by independent filmmaker and fearless creative Paul Stark. As an eye-opening exploration of the mysterious events that took part in the Portuguese region of Fatima, the film is both powerful and provocative.
Leaving behind a career in tech consulting to pursue his passion for filmmaking, The Vatican Deception represents Stark’s unwavering dedication to the truth – one that nobody has ever been able to agree upon. Like his film, the story of Fatima has raised eyebrows for decades; a controversy surrounding the Vatican’s role in making – and perhaps concealing – history.
Paul Stark, Producer of The Vatican Deception
Now recognized for his contributions to the world of documentary filmmaking, Paul was once a consultant to numerous financial institutions, helping them take safeguarding measures against potential Y2K crises. While the fall of technology was a fear for many, talk of prophecies began permeating global discussions. At this time, Paul came across the Fatima controversy, a story that catalyzed his journey to creating The Vatican Deception.
The film revolves around the 1917 prophecy of Fatima, where three young children claimed to have heard a direct revelation from the Virgin Mary. The message they supposedly heard, was broken into three distinctive parts, two of which were publicly revealed by the Vatican, leaving one a concealed mystery. As more members of the Portuguese community began paying attention to this increasingly popularized prophecy, they patiently waited to hear more. In 1960, when the third secret was rumoured to be exposed, the Vatican didn’t do what was expected, staying silent and leaving room for speculative rumours to circulate.
The Vatican Deception hones in on the theories that arose, delving into the potential reasons why the Vatican would hold back on sharing such long awaited information. Known as ‘the final message of the prophecy’ for decades that followed, suspicions regarding its purpose never seemed to fade away. In turn, this had a remarkable impact on those who came to know of the three children’s story, linking it to other pertinent events taking place around the world.
Stark’s documentary features discussions with those from inside the Vatican, as well as insightful interviews with leading theologians. Its dedicated exploration of history and how the story has played out since, reveals internal fractures that existed within the Vatican, itself – fractures that divided those who wished to tell the truth, and those dedicated to masking it.
Distinguished film critic Dr. Elizabeth Yore, commented on the documentary, calling it thorough, invigorating and compelling. However, The Vatican Deception was not always met with such praise, with other viewers deeming the movie as an unnerving exposé but an exposé nonetheless, something necessary on the journey to finding truth. Driven by the relentless pursuit of the facts, Paul Stark hopes to raise awareness for this underrepresented portion of history that he believes should be considered by the Vatican today.
Among the most well-presented elements of the film is the way Paul links events of the modern day with the warnings presented by the children of Fatima. In fact, he even connects the ‘deception’ of the Vatican to Communist Russia, The Second World War and other conflicts across the globe. Paul presents the argument that the Vatican’s deal with Russia in the 1960s was a crucial compromise – a pivotal moment that came with grave consequences for both the church, and the rest of the world.
Unfortunately, censorship also played a role in the release and reception of The Vatican Deception. Although the film received respectable ratings on major platforms like IMDb, distribution soon became an issue as some labelled the movie as too polarizing and controversial. To combat this unfortunate reality – which is strikingly reminiscent of the core principles discussed throughout the film – Paul has ensured The Vatican Deception is priced attractively on his personal website, inviting more audiences to engage with his fearless work.
As Paul Stark campaigns to release the film in additional formats, he continues to calculate new ways to overcome the restrictions he’s been confronted with. He stands as a champion for true freedoms – of speech, art, and expression – as he refuses to halt on his journey to find the true version of history, one that nobody can really be sure of, but can certainly question. Whether Stark’s movie makes them feel confused or inspired, viewers of The Vatican Deception are left with an empowering push to think for themselves and stay curious, despite others’ attempts to conceal history, or forget about it altogether.
