Lourdes
De:Jessica Hausner
Com:Sylvie Testud, Léa Seydoux, Bruno Todeschini, Elina Löwensohn
Género:Drama
Classificação:M/12
Outros dados:Áustria/ALE/FRA, 2009, Cores, 98 min.
Confinada a uma cadeira de rodas devido a uma doença degenerativa nos ossos, Christine (Sylvie Testud) sente a revolta de quem, todos os dias, enfrenta as dificuldades inerentes à sua condição. Sem perder a esperança, empenha-se numa peregrinação ao Santuário de Lourdes, nos Pirenéus franceses, visitada por milhares de crentes de todo o mundo. Aí conhece Madame Hartl, uma senhora de meia-idade que, à custa de uma vida de profunda solidão, procura em Lourdes o sentido para a sua existência. Entre as duas nasce uma relação de fé tão grandiosa que Christine, assistindo ao milagre da sua própria vida, acaba por voltar a andar. Decidida a agarrar aquela que considera ser a grande oportunidade da sua vida, nada a parece fazer parar. Terceira longa-metragem de Jessica Hausner ("Lovely Rita", "Hotel"), um filme sobre a fé e a coragem das pessoas comuns perante a adversidade.
Profile of Lourdes
Lourdes can be described as gloomy, sincere, and bittersweet. The plot revolves around a miraculous event, disabilities, and redemption. The main genres are drama and foreign. In terms of style, Lourdes stars a strong female character. In approach, it is serious. It is set, at least in part, in the mountains. Lourdes is located in France. It takes place in contemporary times. The movie has received attention for being a Venice Festival winner.
Summary of Lourdes
“Lourdes, France, 1858 . . . the healing waters flow from the grotto, carrying a message, and a promise.” Or so the Internet informs potential visitors to Lourdes, a hot spot for Christian travel. Following a pack of religious believers on a pilgrimage to Lourdes, Jessica Hausner's third feature explores this major Christian shrine and source of allegedly miraculous cures. A city of a mere fifteen thousand inhabitants, Lourdes nevertheless has the second-greatest number of hotels in France (after Paris). While anyone's first reaction to the hype might be disbelief, Hausner exercises some of her signature Austrian cool. Always treading a fine line between sorrow and satire, she has proven herself a consummate arbiter. In Lourdes, Hausner's depiction of her emotionally and physically disabled protagonist wavers between a critique of religion and a story of redemption.Christine (Sylvie Testud) only acts pious so she can be taken on church trips. As she readily admits, she doesn't get many chances to travel while stuck in a wheelchair (due to an illness that seems to be multiple sclerosis). Accompanied by a skeptical companion and surrounded by desperate souls seeking a miracle, Christine craves only company, and she's not too discriminating. From disbelieving volunteers to zealous church matriarchs, she is willing to befriend anyone she comes into contact with, regardless of form or faith. Suffering from underdeveloped social skills, Christine fumbles her way through conversations, falling into one uncomfortable silence after another, but her smile never wanes. Testud brings her character to vivid life under the nuanced direction of Hausner. Both guarded and yearning, this is a multi-faceted heroine.Christine's pilgrimage to Lourdes is perplexing and wonderful in its misguided search. She will discover that the most important part of the journey is to believe in something, whether basic human kindness or divine intervention. Perhaps Christine might even get her miracle, as long as she doesn't waste her life praying for it.
Details
Language: German
Country: Austria
Release date: 22 January 2010
Runtime: 96 min
Cast and Crew
See all Sylvie Testud as Christine
Léa Seydoux as Maria
Gilette Barbier as Fr. Hartl
Gerhard Liebmann as Pater Nigl
