Lourdes (2009)
Country: ÖST/FR/GER
Technical: col 96m
Director: Jessica Hausner
Cast: Sylvie Testud, Léa Seydoux, Bruno Todeschini
Synopsis:
A girl suffering from multiple sclerosis who is paralysed from the neck down joins a coach party to Lourdes out of idle curiosity and the need to 'get out', but the hand of God strikes in unforeseen ways.
Review:
The film uses much of its running time to observe the Lourdes phenomenon from a number of angles: the tourism, the more or less jaundiced attitudes of the pilgrims, the helpers, ranging from young and flighty to stern and devout, and the priest and driver, who offer pious commonplaces and scepticism in equal measures. When the remarkable occurs it is all the more unexpected from a platform of implied, albeit balanced, criticism. The ultimate 'Will it last?' question is answered with marvellous ambiguity in the closing shot, with the song 'Felicitá' ringing on the soundtrack.
Country: ÖST/FR/GER
Technical: col 96m
Director: Jessica Hausner
Cast: Sylvie Testud, Léa Seydoux, Bruno Todeschini
Synopsis:
A girl suffering from multiple sclerosis who is paralysed from the neck down joins a coach party to Lourdes out of idle curiosity and the need to 'get out', but the hand of God strikes in unforeseen ways.
Review:
The film uses much of its running time to observe the Lourdes phenomenon from a number of angles: the tourism, the more or less jaundiced attitudes of the pilgrims, the helpers, ranging from young and flighty to stern and devout, and the priest and driver, who offer pious commonplaces and scepticism in equal measures. When the remarkable occurs it is all the more unexpected from a platform of implied, albeit balanced, criticism. The ultimate 'Will it last?' question is answered with marvellous ambiguity in the closing shot, with the song 'Felicitá' ringing on the soundtrack.
Country: ÖST/FR/GER
Technical: col 96m
Director: Jessica Hausner
Cast: Sylvie Testud, Léa Seydoux, Bruno Todeschini
Synopsis:
A girl suffering from multiple sclerosis who is paralysed from the neck down joins a coach party to Lourdes out of idle curiosity and the need to 'get out', but the hand of God strikes in unforeseen ways.
Review:
The film uses much of its running time to observe the Lourdes phenomenon from a number of angles: the tourism, the more or less jaundiced attitudes of the pilgrims, the helpers, ranging from young and flighty to stern and devout, and the priest and driver, who offer pious commonplaces and scepticism in equal measures. When the remarkable occurs it is all the more unexpected from a platform of implied, albeit balanced, criticism. The ultimate 'Will it last?' question is answered with marvellous ambiguity in the closing shot, with the song 'Felicitá' ringing on the soundtrack.