Why you can trust 12DOVE
The glutinous rendition of Schubert’s ‘Ave Maria’ that kicks off Lourdes makes you wonder – are we in for mocking satire or pious uplift? Neither, as it turns out.
Austrianborn director Jessica Hausner’s Venice-winner subjects the much-visited French shrine to the Virgin Mary to a non-committal, almost documentary scrutiny – though one that’s not without its moments of sly humour.
Christine (a fierce, frail performance from Sylvie Testud) is a wheelchair-bound sufferer from multiple sclerosis who visits Lourdes less out of faith than by way of a fresh holiday destination. (She decides she prefers Rome, as it’s “more cultural”.)
Hausner subtly sketches in the characters involved – the pilgrims, the carers, the bemused but conscientious resident priest – and the tensions and jealousies that thrive in Lourdes’ hothouse atmosphere, without ever showing her hand.
Disneyland for the credulous, or miracle-working shrine? We’re left to make up our own minds on that one.
Devs behind the legendarily horny Dead or Alive series take "strict action" against nearly 3,000 pieces of content made for "adult purposes" every year
Call of Duty dev's Dino sword fighting game that started out as a joke secures 10k wishlists in its first day
Veteran analyst expects Switch 2 to be "a massive success," but doesn't see it matching the "outlier" that was the Switch 1: "It could happen, but it's not likely"