Review of Lourdes (2009) by Phil B — 30 Jan 2011
âLourdesâ? is a charming French movie with a minimal plot, but a great eye for detail. The theme is unusual, but fascinating. It takes its time to introduce us in the bizarre world called Lourdes: a hybrid of religion and tourism.
The film is serious, but also mildly ironic: it subtly exposes many of the absurdities surrounding the world-famous holy place for pilgrims: from the seemingly oddly thrown-together collections of entirely different individuals (who are all ill and/or religious, though) to the awkwardness with which the disabled pilgrims are nursed and fed to the immature or even unfeeling responses to some of the so-called cures (does it count officially as a miracle if it doesnâ(TM)t last long enough, why do some people cure and some not, is it fair that someone not-so-very-religious should be singled out for cure instead of others, etc.
). It is funny to see people being deadly serious about whatâ(TM)s going on in Lourdes, but quite casual at the same time (the volunteer girls in habit smoke, use make-up and flirt with the young men; some of the religious people tell each other jokes with a religious content, etc.
). The continuation of scenes is not in any way surprising (visits to ritual baths, church, confession, cave, tourist shops, surrounding countryside, dining room, closing party, etc.) but keeps you glued to the screen all the same.
Christineâ(TM)s (Sylvie Testud) âmiraculousâ? cure and her amorous advance to Kuno (Bruno Todeschini) alone are touching enough to make this film really worthwhile.
This review of Lourdes (2009) was written by Phil B on 30 Jan 2011.
Lourdes has generally received positive reviews.
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