Lourdes
To escape her isolation, wheelchair-bound Christine makes a journey to Lourdes, the iconic pilgrimage site in the Pyrenees.
Christine has been confined to a wheelchair for most of her life. In order to escape her isolation, she makes a life-changing journey to Lourdes, the iconic site of pilgrimage in the Pyrenees Mountains. She wakes up one morning seemingly cured by a miracle. The leader of the pilgrimage group, a handsome 40-year-old volunteer from the Order of Malta, begins to take an interest in her. She tries to hold on to this newfound chance for happiness, while her cure provokes envy and admiration.
“‘Lourdes’ has met with universal support and deservedly so – the film is exquisite, blending a sardonic humour with compassionate humanism.” – Wendy Ide, The Times
“Lourdes” premiered at the Venice Film Festival where it was awarded the FIPRESCI Prize, followed by other prizes, such as the European Film Award for Best Actress for Sylvie Testud.
Introduction by Eve Anijärv
Jessica Hausner (1972) studied directing at the Film Academy of Vienna where she made her first short films, “Flora” (1996) and “Inter-View” (1999), both awarded. She then directed two feature films, “Lovely Rita” (2001) and “Hotel” (2004), which premiered at the Festival de Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section. In 2009, “Lourdes” was selected at the Venice Film Festival where it was awarded the FIPRESCI Prize, followed by other prizes, such as the European Film Award for Best Actress for Sylvie Testud. She comes back in Un Certain Regard Competition with “Amour Fou” in 2014. Her fifth feature film and the first in English, “Little Joe”, was selected in Competition at the Festival de Cannes 2019 where Emily Beecham received the Best Actress award. A great festival success, the film sold in more than 20 countries worldwide. Her 2023 film “Club Zero”, starring Mia Wasikowska, was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 76th Cannes Film Festival.
Filmography:
Inter-View (1999), Lovely Rita (Armas Rita, PÖFF 2001), Hotel (2004), Lourdes (PÖFF 2009), Amour fou (2014), Little Joe (Väike Joe, 2019), Club Zero (Nulliklubi, 2023)
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