Educational Media Reviews Online

With commentaries by historians, scientists, and members of the clergy, Guadalupe: A Living Image documents the intriguing story behind the appearances of the “Virgin of Guadalupe” to Juan Diego in 1532. Asked by the Virgin Mary to speak to his local Bishop about constructing a house sacred to her, Juan Diego faithfully makes the request, revealing the miraculous image of the Virgin emblazoned on his cloak. Interspersed with simple dramatic reenactments and low-key special effects, the written accounts of the Guadalupe story are investigated, as well as the religious and artistic symbolism evident in the cloak. Throughout the twentieth century, conservators, artists, and art historians have examined the pigments and the cloth, and many questions remain. If not a miracle and something made by Man, why is there an absence of brush strokes? Why was the rough cloth not prepped for painting? One of the most interesting claims comes from a civil engineer, Dr. Aste Tonsman. With the aid of digital photography, Dr. Tonsman believes that 13 figures can be detected in the eyes of Guadalupe, each figure corresponding to a living person that was present when Juan Diego made his revelation in front of his Bishop.

This is a fast-moving documentary that would appeal to larger public libraries, and to those in academic settings. Any one of the theories presented in the film could open interesting avenues for debate in the fields of Art History, Religion, and the Physical Sciences. Recommended.

Guadalupe: A Living Image is available in English and Spanish.