Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- solemn
- tragic
- emotionally intense
- religious history viewing
- historical epic night
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as a mechanically told and cliché-laden historical drama, while Muslim scholars and institutions condemned its sectarian framing and inflammatory interpretation.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The story centers on Fatima and disputed events surrounding succession to Muhammad, drawing criticism from both Shia and Sunni authorities.
An Iraqi child living amid war learns from the story of Lady Fatima, while the film intercuts that present-day experience with early Islamic history.
The plot foregrounds torture, tragedy, attacks, terrorism, and the endurance of Fatima and those connected to her.
The Iraqi child's lesson and Fatima's journey both emphasize patience and moral endurance in the face of brutality.
Films like The Lady of Heaven, and why
The Message
shared historical religious subject matter, solemn drama, and depiction of sectarian conflict
Kingdom of Heaven
shared medieval historical setting, faith-centered themes, and brutal political upheaval
The Passion of the Christ
shared epic historical drama, spiritual conviction, and emotionally heightened depictions of persecution
Movie Details
- Director
- Eli King
- Release Date
- 2021-12-10
- Runtime
- 141 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (27)
Cast
- Ray Fearon
- Yasmin Mwanza
- Lucas Bond
- Christopher Sciueref
- Oscar Salem
- Chris Jarman
- Matthew Brenher
- Mark Anthony Brighton
- Gabriel Cartrade
- Albane Courtois
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Lady of Heaven about?
- A solemn, visually heightened religious epic links an Iraqi child's wartime trauma to Lady Fatima's struggle amid the violent succession crisis of early Islam.
- What is The Lady of Heaven like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Lady of Heaven as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Lady of Heaven violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Lady of Heaven as graphic.
- What did critics think of The Lady of Heaven?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as a mechanically told and cliché-laden historical drama, while Muslim scholars and institutions condemned its sectarian framing and inflammatory interpretation.
- Which films are like The Lady of Heaven?
- Films with a similar feel include The Message, Kingdom of Heaven, and The Passion of the Christ.
- How long is The Lady of Heaven?
- The Lady of Heaven runs 141 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Lady of Heaven?
- In United States, The Lady of Heaven streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
