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Lourdes (2009)

Director: Jessica Hausner

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9 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Austrian director Jessica Hausner, once a pupil of Michael Haneke (and credited on imdb.com, not very flatteringly, as ‘script girl’ on ‘Funny Games’), takes her cameras to the French Pyrenean pilgrimage site of Lourdes for her third film, a mysterious, French-language ensemble piece about the role of miracles in the modern world. Hausner’s focus is on a youngish French woman, Christine (Sylvie Testud), one of a large group of pilgrims being shepherded around by Lourdes’s Order of Malta volunteers, a gang of young helpers dressed like fascists moonlighting as members of the St John Ambulance. But Hausner is wary of focusing too much on Christine, preferring to give equal billing to Lourdes itself and her wider group of pilgrims.

The characters are scripted, but the places are real, and part of the film’s thrill, especially when coupled with Hausner’s often inscrutable attitude towards the place, is to watch her drama unfolding in such a location, both creepy and magical, dour and uplifting. Hausner has been given a privilege and she uses it wisely.

Gradually, though, the drama tightens around Christine, whom we observe at closer quarters than the others. She is frail, pretty and blonde; she’s also living with multiple sclerosis and is unable to move her body below the neck. Christine’s religious beliefs are unclear (‘I prefer the cultural trips,’ she says) but the pilgrimage is having a strange effect on her and soon she’s the focus of everyone’s attention. Are we witnessing a miracle? Is Christine manipulating the situation? Is she really ill? And are we cruel even to entertain that last thought?

The beauty of Hausner’s film is that just when you think she’s going to take a sneering swipe at Lourdes, its tacky trinkets and deluded visitors, the film takes a much less easy – and more inquiring – turn. Like Haneke, Hausner is more comfortable opening a debate than closing it. Some things are clear, though. Her photography is exquisite, evoking religious icons, and her mastery of directing such a group of actors at this exceptional location allows the film to maintain a strong ensemble feel while never losing sight of the mysterious story at its core. There’s also a delicious streak of black humour that runs through the film and stops it from becoming too pious or maudlin. The result is a provocative and surprising pleasure that may persuade even the most hardened rationalists to reconsider what religion means as a sanctity to those who have few other choices in life.

Author: Dave Calhoun

Time Out London Issue 2066: 25-35 March, 2010

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User reviews of this film

alfredo said...

Posted on May 21 2011 20:19 TO TVDL: YOU JUST MENTIONED ONE OF MY FAVOURITE FILMS EVER: MY DINNER WITH ANDRE. I'M HAPPY THAT SOMEBODY ELSE ENOYED THAT MOVIE.

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TvdL said...

Posted on May 21 2011 13:51 This film has a wonderful texture and a calm acceptance of life: neither criticising nor too enthusiastic. For once you have the feeling that th camera watches and captures but doesn't judge. One of the further rewards is an interview with the main actress. It was a delight to listen to someone so searching, so full of life and intelligence;a big ego in a small package, strongly opinionated but aware of her own foibles. Great cinema and reminded me of My Dinner with Andre.

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ALFREDO said...

Posted on Apr 16 2010 12:49 JohnR couldn't be more accurate.

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amiller said...

Posted on Apr 16 2010 12:38 I read and agreed with most of Dave Calhoun's review of Lourdes but was there a typing error in the final sentence? Surely it should read 'sanctuary' instead of 'sanctity' ?

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ALFREDO said...

Posted on Apr 01 2010 19:28 THIS IS A MOVIE ABOUT THE MORBID CATHOLIC CULTURE OF MIRACLES. ABSOLUTELY FASCNATING AND DISTURBING. I HAVE BEEN IN LOURDES SO I CAN SAY THAT IT REFLECTS VERY WELL THE ATMOSPHERE. THE END IT'S THE ONLY POSSIBLE ONE. A GREAT FILM BUT NOT MUCH FUN.

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LIANNE LYNE said...

Posted on Apr 01 2010 13:42 wHAT STRUCK ME ABOUT THE FILM WAS THE LACK OF EMOTION AND CHRISTINES RESPONSE TO THE HEALING.LOVE AND AFFECTION SEEM TO BE THE NEEDS OF ALL PEOPLE AND THE ENDING WAS QUIT PROFOUND WHEN SHE WAS LEFT ALONE BY THE HELPER SHE HAD MADE KNOWN HER AFFECTIONS TO.HEALING OF THE BODY OR OF THE SOUL.WHICH WOULD YOU PREFER FIRST?

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david glowacki said...

Posted on Mar 29 2010 23:52 An interesting oddity of a film.Sylvie Testud is as usual highly watchable.The madness of human nature in it's ability to believe the ridiculous, is well shown here.The film drives along with very little narrative,instead relying on the main character's tender heart to guide us through.However the last 3rd of the film,becomes ludicrous and too sentimental.It makes a parody of itself.The screen writer could maybe have done a bit better.All in all,a curiosity that works quite well,but has too many imperfections to merit the plaudits it has been given comment you type in this box will appear on the site

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JohnR said...

Posted on Mar 03 2010 21:14 A beautiful and truthful film. Hauser asks many profoundly human questions (see above) and while she doesn't - thankfully - provide any answers (you must live the questions until you can live the answers - Rilke) she hints at why all those people are seeking miracles in the first place: they are all longing to escape their isolation and thus find fulfillment and happiness in communion with others. The miracle, the priest says, is a sign that "we are not alone". But the real sign of this - that everyone seems blind to in their respective sicknesses of soul - is the love of some people for others - like the girl's motherly room mate who is there for her equally at every moment - beginning, middle, and end of the story. Ironically, if Hauser is indeed an atheist, the film points to the heart of what attracts many to Christianity: the name of the Christian God is Emmanuel, which literally means, "God-is-with-us". (John 13:35) As a Catholic, I wish more atheists would made such films!

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TomE said...

Posted on Feb 22 2010 18:24 This is really a lovely 'little' film. Humane, gentle, understated, and not shy in addressing substantial issues. As close to perfect as one is likely to see.
But I'd suggest that casting religion as the central proposition here, catastrophically short-changes this approachable work.
Hauser's questions about religion, and about the nature of 'miracles' could (essentially) be simply stated. To what extent are you a believer, or not?
However Ms Hauser also gently asks several more difficult questions:
- What is the nature of hope?
- How do you view others who are in pain?
- Why do we crave certitude in matters we cannot discern? And what the cost of doing so?
Ultimately, its a big 'little' film. So much the better.

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