Review topics: ["packaging","lighting","film","movie","transfer","storytelling","interviews","faith","release","hausner","drama","performances","hotel","viewing","events","tone"].
Reviews
Good film.
"A film that asks a lot of questions without really answering them. The film walks a fine line between skepticism and curiosity without completely slamming the door on religion. Recommended."
— Alejandro P. (5/5)
Good for a Nice Cry
"Movie: Oof. This really hit me in the feels. Also _really_ striking framing in a lot of the scenes. I'm not super familiar with Catholicism in general or these sorts of faith-healing pilgrimages in particular, so that was a very interesting aspect of the movie. Shout out to the main nurse assistant of the protagonist for really telegraphing her performance, which I think sold the comedic undertones. Also hilarious to me how horny she is for the guy who just seems like an average middle-aged man. Is this a recurring Hausner theme or just European attractiveness standards for men? Extras: Inter-View: It took awhile until the movie got my attention, and then it lost my attention, and then it got it back again. The dancing really made this worth the watch for me. Other extras: Nice to have the trailer, as well as the ones for other Hausner films. The interview was fine. Packaging: Solid inner cover, plus a nice slipcover tha matches the other two Hausner releases"
— Gideon M. (5/5)
Entertaining drama
"Entertaining and inspirational drama with elements of humor. Great storytelling explores healing through faith, wonderful cast, unique lighting, all in an excellent transfer. Comes with a handful of extra features and nifty artwork on the slipcover and sleeve."
— Kresh R. (4/5)
Oh lourdes
"a quiet, thoughtful study of human vulnerability and skepticism."
— Kevin G. (5/5)
A Poignant and Quiet Exploration of Faith and Miracles
"Lourdes, starring Sylvie Testud, is a contemplative drama that examines the intersection of belief, hope, and human vulnerability. The film follows a woman with a debilitating illness visiting the famous pilgrimage site, where subtle, mysterious events force both her and those around her to confront questions of faith, doubt, and the possibility of the miraculous. The strength of the film lies in its restraint. Rather than dramatizing events, it focuses on intimate moments—the quiet gestures, fleeting expressions, and the reflective atmosphere of the pilgrimage. Testud delivers a nuanced performance, conveying both physical fragility and inner strength with understated grace. Visually, the film captures the sacred and everyday aspects of Lourdes with sensitivity, using natural light and measured compositions to reinforce its contemplative tone. Lourdes is a slow, meditative experience, ideal for viewers seeking a thoughtful and emotionally resonant exploration of belief, hope, and human resilience."
— Thomas H. (5/5)
It's a miracle! Or is it?
"Having rolled the dice on a blind buy of Jessica Hausner’s austerely unnerving Hotel, I doubled down when Film Movement’s releases of Lovely Rita and Lourdes went on sale. I haven’t yet gotten to the former, but the latter more than justified the gamble. Viewers in search of closure or catharsis would do well to keep Hausner at arm’s length. She is a filmmaker who finds questions far more compelling than answers. In Lourdes, she turns her clinical, unblinking gaze on the annual Catholic pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, where the sick and their caretakers arrive in search of miracles. When one appears to be granted to Christine, a woman with multiple sclerosis, the event ripples outward, triggering religious awe, suspicion, jealousy, and quiet resentment in equal measure. Is it a miracle? A coincidence? A psychological need made flesh? Hausner refuses to adjudicate. Instead, she lingers in the uneasy space between belief and doubt, interrogating the fragile architecture of faith and the social dynamics that surround it. As with Film Movement’s partner releases of Hotel and Lovely Rita, the slip features gorgeously reimagined artwork; together, the trio makes for an elegant shelf display. Supplements are modest: Hausner’s short film Inter-View, a brief interview with the director, and trailers. The absence of a booklet is a missed opportunity, as this is a film that practically demands critical accompaniment alongside its striking stills. Still, it's another solid release from Film Movement even though, perhaps appropriately, it falls short of miraculous."
— Shawn P. (5/5)
Lawds
"Interesting contemplation on religion and miracles, very pleasing to look at due to Hausner's use of color and gifted eye for framing and composition."
— Jon B. (5/5)
Nice surprise
"I honestly bought this as it was on sale, was impressive thw way its shot and the story will look out fur the directors other work"
— Rohan J. (3/5)
Ambiguous in all the good ways
"A film that's ambiguous in all the good ways. Hotel is my guilty pleasure favorite Housner, but Lourdes is the best Hausner. But really you should see all three put out by Film Movement. And they make a nice set."
— Oleh S. (5/5)
Hausner
"Best of the trilogy IMO. Nice transfer."
— Justin M. (5/5)
