What Is Time of Miracles About?
The premise of Time of Miracles in 406 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the smoky aftermath of World War II, a remote village called Bethany awakens to a new order. September 1945 finds its cobbled streets and weather‑worn houses bathed in the cold light of a revolutionary regime that has just seized power. The air is thick with the smell of fresh paint and lingering incense, a clash of ideologies that see the ancient stone church—once the heart of the community—recast as a symbol of the state’s ambitious secular vision. The film’s palette is muted gray and ochre, punctuated by the stark red of a freshly hoisted flag, creating a visual tension that mirrors the unsettled souls of the villagers.
The authorities move quickly, stripping the sanctuary of its priest and covering the revered frescoes with a thin veil of whitewash. Yet, each brushstroke seems to awaken something unseen; the original images stubbornly reappear, as if the walls themselves remember a deeper truth. This uncanny persistence turns the simple act of repainting into a silent dialogue between the past and the present, between faith and doctrine. The community watches, half‑amazed and half‑terrified, as the very fabric of their sacred space resists erasure, hinting at forces that refuse to be silenced.
Into this charged atmosphere steps the Stranger, a young man whose origins are as mysterious as the miracles that begin to surround him. With a quiet confidence, he reaches out to the Teacher, whose sudden death has left a void in the village’s collective heart. The act of touching the fallen and the inexplicable response that follows sow seeds of wonder, prompting many to whisper that the Messiah may have walked among them. At the same time, the revolutionary guard—embodied by the Revolutionary who still clings to the flag—views these signs as a direct challenge to the new order, setting the stage for a collision of dogmas that feels both timeless and immediate.
The tone of the film balances stark realism with an almost lyrical mysticism, allowing each frame to breathe with the weight of belief and doubt. Director Paskaljevic’s background in television lends the narrative a measured pace, while the expanded feature format lets the viewer linger on the village’s quiet streets, the flickering candlelight within the church, and the uneasy glances exchanged between comrades and believers. As the story unfolds, the audience is invited to contemplate how miracles—whether divine or imagined—can stir the deepest currents of a community poised on the brink of an ideological storm.
What Happens in Time of Miracles?
The complete story of Time of Miracles, from the first scene to the last, in 284 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
In the village of Bethany, a place named after the biblical town near Jerusalem where Lazarus was said to be resurrected, the story unfolds in September 1945 as World War II comes to a close. The new communist government launches a sweeping campaign aimed at erasing folk customs and beliefs, in effect exorcising God from daily life. The local school is consumed by fire, and the authorities storm the village church, driving out the priest. A revolutionary climbs the church walls and hoists the Communist flag on the cross while others paint frescoes on the walls, turning the church into a battleground of symbols. Yet every attempt to whitewash the frescoes fails, as the vivid images mysteriously reappear, stubbornly resisting the regime’s efforts. The revolutionaries interpret this stubborn persistence as a counter-revolutionary act, setting the stage for a broader clash between new political dogma and long-standing spiritual beliefs.
A teacher dies, and a stranger enters the village, triggering events that will test faith and politics alike. A young man, unknown to everyone, touches the hands of the deceased teacher on the scaffold and raises him from the dead. Word spreads that Christ has arrived in Bethany, performing miracles for the villagers, while the communists insist that the resurrection is a counter-revolutionary ruse. The central problem for the regime is precisely this miracle—an event that cannot be reconciled with a worldview that denies faith. The drama turns on a fundamental conflict between two dogmas: the primitive, inflexible interpretation of Communism and the enduring, inscrutable claims of Christianity. This tension amplifies everyday life in a village where superstition, authority, and belief collide, forcing each character to navigate the uneasy space between revolutionary zeal and spiritual mystery.
Time of Miracles Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “End of World War II and crackdown begins” to “The struggle over belief and power continues”. 12 events name a place, across 5 locations.
- 1
End of World War II and crackdown begins
In September 1945, World War II has just ended and Bethany faces a new political order. The communist revolutionary government begins a campaign to eradicate folk customs and beliefs, exorcising God from daily life. The village's school burns down and the authorities seize the village church, driving out the local priest.
When:September 1945 Where:Bethany
- 2
Revolutionaries hoist flag on the church cross
A revolutionary climbs the village church and places the Communist flag on the cross, signaling the new order's ascendancy over religion. The act heightens tension between believers and the state and turns the church into a focal point of political struggle.
When:Late 1945 Where:Bethany church
- 3
Frescoes defy whitewash
Revolutionaries paint frescoes on the church walls, attempting to cover them or erase them. But every attempt to whitewash the walls fails as the frescoes miraculously reappear, reinforcing the sense of a divine presence within Bethany's church.
When:Late 1945 Where:Bethany church walls
- 4
The teacher dies
The village's teacher dies under the strain of the crackdown, leaving the community bereaved. The event deepens fear that knowledge and faith are under threat from the new regime.
When:Late 1945 Where:Bethany village
- 5
A stranger appears in the village
Soon after the teacher's death, a stranger arrives in Bethany, stirring curiosity and suspicion among residents. The figure's appearance introduces an unsettling omen into the village's already tense atmosphere.
When:Late 1945 Where:Bethany
- 6
The stranger resurrects the teacher
A young man whom no one knows touches the hands of the deceased teacher on the scaffold and raises him from the dead. The miraculous event shocks the community and destabilizes the political narrative that miracles have ended with the old order.
When:Early 1946 Where:Bethany scaffold
- 7
Miracles reawaken faith
News of the resurrection spreads, and people begin to believe that Christ has arrived in Bethany and is performing miracles. The apparent miracles clash with the state's atheistic ideology and inflame tensions between believers and the revolutionary authorities.
When:Early 1946 Where:Bethany
- 8
Miracle judged counter-revolutionary by the state
The communist authorities condemn the resurrection as a counter-revolutionary act, arguing the miracles undermine the revolution's control of truth. The conflict between religious faith and political doctrine intensifies as both sides claim legitimacy.
When:Early 1946 Where:Bethany
- 9
The risen teacher embodies faith vs state power
The risen teacher becomes a symbol of faith while the regime sees him as a threat to its power. The tension centers on the defiance of miracles versus the state's demand for secular order.
When:Early 1946 Where:Bethany
- 10
Two dogmas collide in daily life
A growing struggle pits village life, faith, and miracles against the state's push to erase God from public life. The cross, frescoes, and the resurrected teacher become focal points in this culture war.
When:Early 1946 Where:Bethany
- 11
Church versus state amplifies social tension
The church remains a focal point for belief and miracles while the state continues to enforce secular doctrine. People are torn between loyalty to the Church and loyalty to the new regime.
When:Early 1946 Where:Bethany
- 12
The struggle over belief and power continues
The narrative centers on the clash between miracle-working faith and an ideology that denies such beliefs. As events unfold, the mystery of the stranger and the meaning of the resurrected teacher loom over the village.
When:Early 1946 Where:Bethany
Who Are the Main Characters in Time of Miracles?
5 characters, among them Marta (Mirjana Karanović), Ozren (Slobodan 'Boda' Ninković) and Nikodim (Miki Manojlović): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- M(
Marta (Mirjana Karanović)
Played by Mirjana Karanović
A central village resident who bears witness to the inexplicable events. She navigates pressure from the new regime while clinging to personal faith and community bonds. Marta embodies the everyday struggle between belief, resilience, and social change.
- 🕊️ Faith
- 👥 Community
- 🗣️ Dissent
- O(
Ozren (Slobodan 'Boda' Ninković)
Played by Slobodan 'Boda' Ninković
A fiery revolutionary figure whose actions catalyze the conflict between the village and the authorities. He embodies zeal and the drive for radical change, often clashing with traditional beliefs. His presence magnifies the political stakes of miracles.
- 🔥 Revolution
- 🧭 Ideology
- 🛡️ Conflict
- N(
Nikodim (Miki Manojlović)
Played by Miki Manojlović
A figure of authority who seeks to control the narrative around the miraculous events. He represents traditional power structures and their suspicion toward the inexplicable. His perspective heightens the drama as faith asserts itself against governance.
- ⛪️ Tradition
- 🕊️ Faith
- ⚖️ Authority
- P(
Popadija (Neda Arnerić)
Played by Neda Arnerić
An elder woman who embodies the village's traditional values and resilience. She anchors community memory and skepticism of the new order, providing a moral counterpoint to the revolutionary fervor. Her stance reflects how the old ways resist rapid political change.
- 👵 Elderly
- 🧭 Tradition
- 🏛️ Society
- J(
Jovan (Danilo 'Bata' Stojković)
Played by Danilo 'Bata' Stojković
A respected village elder who observes the events with wary prudence. He embodies the tension between loyalty to the community and alarm at upheaval, serving as a voice of cautious judgment.
- 🧓 Elder
- 🗳️ Politics
- 🧭 Loyalty
Where and When Is Time of Miracles Set?
Time of Miracles is set in Bethany and near Jerusalem (September 1945). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
September 1945
The story unfolds in the immediate post-war period, as World War II has just ended and a new communist government begins to reshape village life. Rural communities confront attempts to suppress folk customs and religious symbols. The miraculous events that follow force the villagers to choose between revolutionary rationalism and enduring faith.
Where
Bethany, near Jerusalem
Bethany is a small rural village that echoes the biblical setting near Jerusalem. Its landscape is dominated by a central church, a burned school, and hillside paths that carry the weight of post-war tensions. The place is known for the stubborn frescoes that reappear on the walls, symbolizing a resilient faith in the face of political repression.
- 🗺️ Village-like
- ⛪ Church-centered
- 🌄 Rural
What Are the Themes of Time of Miracles?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Faith vs Ideology, Miracles vs Propaganda and Dogma and Authority.
-
01
Faith vs Ideology
Faith and ideology collide as villagers interpret miraculous signs as either divine intervention or political counter-narrative. The resurrected teacher becomes a focal point around which belief and power contest each other. The film uses this clash to explore how belief structures shape communal life.
-
02
Miracles vs Propaganda
Miracles are treated as potential proof of something beyond politics, while propaganda seeks to frame them as dangerous superstition. Different factions contest the meaning of the same event, revealing how truth is shaped by power. The tension exposes the fragility of narratives when faced with the inexplicable.
-
03
Dogma and Authority
Two dogmas—the Christian faith and the communist doctrine—collide as the village grapples with the miracle and the crackdown that follows. Leaders try to bend events to fit their worldview, while ordinary villagers navigate loyalty to family and community. The struggle highlights how competing systems struggle to coexist when confronted with miracles.
What Kind of Film Is Time of Miracles?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Ambiguous
A darkly satirical and tense drama where a village becomes a battleground for competing dogmas, creating a mysterious and oppressive atmosphere of political and religious conflict.
- satirical
- tense
- mysterious
- confrontational
- miraculous
- thought-provoking
- ideological conflict
- religious faith
- miracles
- political satire
Content notes: political oppression, religious persecution.
