Christine is a wheelchair-using woman with severe multiple sclerosis. In order to escape her isolation, she makes a journey to Lourdes, the iconic site of Catholic pilgrimage in the Pyrenees Mountains, along with other people with varying disabilities. During her stay she begins to regain the use of her limbs. This is in contrast with others, who appear to have stronger faith than Christine but experience only slight, passing improvement. Her fellow pilgrims are eager to call it a miracle; however, as the pilgrimage draws to a close, exactly how accurate a claim this is becomes uncertain.
Awards
- Brian Award, FIPRESCI Prize, SIGNIS Award, Sergio Trasatti Award - Venice FF
- Best Actress - European Film Awards
- Best Film Editing - Austrian Film Award
- Best Feature - Viennale
- Best Foreign Film - Guldbagge Awards
- Best Cinematography - RiverRun IFF
- Golden Giraldillo - Seville European FF
- Grand Prix, Warsaw Award - Warsaw IFF
Credits
- Cast
- Sylvie Testud
- Léa Seydoux
- Bruno Todeschini
- Elina Löwensohn
- Gilette Barbier
- Gerhard Liebmann
- Linde Prelog
- Heidi Baratta
- Hubert Kramar
- Helga Illich
- Walter Benn
- Petra Morzé
- Orsolya Tóth
- Katharina Flicker
- Thomas Uhlir
- Screenplay
- Jessica Hausner
- Cinematography
- Martin Gschlacht
- Editing
- Karina Ressler
- Sales
- COPRODUCTION OFFICE
- Production
- COOP99 FILMPRODUKTION
- Production
- ESSENTIAL FILMPRODUKTION
- Production
- PARISIENNE DE PRODUCTION
- Production
- THERMIDOR FILMPRODUKTION
Press
-
Hausner proves an excellent director of actors.
-
Jessica Hausner's drama is subtle, mysterious and brilliant.
Jessica Hausner
Austria
"I always see the characters in contrast to their task, their obligation. I have a strong sense of these characters like in a game of chess, what’s their role in this process?"
Jessica Hausner was born in Vienna, Austria. She studied directing at the Filmakademie of Vienna, where in 1996 she made the short film FLORA, which won the Léopard de Demain at the Locarno Festival. INTER-VIEW, her graduation film, won the Prix du Jury of the Cinéfondation at the Cannes Film Festival in 1999. Two years later, LOVELY RITA, her first feature film, was presented in Un Certain Regard at the Cannes FF. Her second feature HOTEL was again selected for Cannes FF, and won the Grand Prix for the Best Austrian Feature at the Diagonale 2005. In 2009 she went on to make the multiple prize-winning feature LOURDES. Her most recent feature, AMOUR FOU has taken part in both Cannes and Toronto IFF. Her last feature LITTLE JOE will premiere in Cannes, in the Official Selection.
