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Bernadette (1988)

Director: Jean Delannoy

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From Time Out Film Guide

Veteran director Delannoy keeps things simple in his account of the peasant girl who claimed to have seen a vision at Lourdes. Bernadette lives with her family in appalling poverty, suffers from asthma, and is a slow learner, unable to grasp the intricacies of the catechism. One day a lady in white bathed in a heavenly glow appears in a grotto (the first of 17 such sightings). The peasant community believes her unhesitatingly, but official bodies sceptically search for scientific explanations or even political conspiracies. There's no doubting Delannoy's allegiance: he takes time to establish Bernadette's goodness and humility, painting as insipid a character as is usual for cinematic saints, while Sydney Penny brings to the part a naive allure. Long takes and Francis Lai's haunting music set a solemn tone that hints at big implications, but spirituality finally swamps the facts, and at two hours, this small story seems overstretched.

Author: EP 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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Cast & crew

Director: Jean Delannoy

Producer: Giancarlo Parretti

Cast: Sydney Penny, Jean-Marc Bory, Philippe Rondest, Arlette Didier, Roland Lesaffre, Michel Duchaussoy full cast

Duration: 119 mins


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