Lourdes (2019) User Reviews

A societal phenomenon

[FrenchEddieFelson · 6/10 · 12 May 2019]

An agnostic review of a rather well-done documentary about a societal phenomenon: Lourdes, in southern France, is a catholic pilgrimage center since the apparitions of 1858, with Bernadette Soubirou who declared to have attended eighteen appearances of a woman posing as the Immaculate Conception. Thus, each year, Lourdes welcomes six million pilgrims or visitors from all over the world.

In this documentary, there is suffering, direct or indirect. But also faith and hope. A lot of hope! Even after ten or even fifteen journeys in Lourdes. Not to mention the manifold encounters between these people. This documentary is very factual and, in a way, commemorates the 70th miracle, according to the International Medical Committee of Lourdes.

A phenomenon

[dbdumonteil · 8/10 · 9 March 2020]

For those who have faith ,no explanation is necessary ;for those who have not,no explanation is possible.This warning appears at the beginning of "the song of Bernadette " which starred Jennifer Jones.

"Lourdes " is a remarkable documentary ; there's no voice-over ,no real comment ;no time is given over to the moneychangers of the Temple -who are numerous- and the fact that Lourdes is the second hotel town in France is passed over in silence .

Most of the time is devoted to the visitors : the sick of course, a girl rejected by the youngsters her age in her school , a (male) prostitute ;and the role of the nurses , the people who accompany the suffering along the way are not overlooked ,we catch glimpses of scouts (who have always been a great help for disabled person ).And there are also soldiers,the legionnaires' pilgrimage to Lourdes is de rigueur.

The voices we hear are theirs ,not that of a famous actor who recites a comment. The disabled does soul-searching: why would the Lord heal me? why me? My neighbor is ,in HIS eyes ,as important as I am; the girl ill-at-ease with herself does not cheer up very much ,in spite of her father's desperate encouragements but will return to her school and perhaps her faith will help her be accepted by her mate; the prostitute feels guilt,he often promises to give up this job he loathes ,but finds it hard to give up ;may be this time ,maybe ....

Watching a movie such as this one can help us become a better human being.

To touch the wall of the cave is indispensable ,it's a sacred ritual

Sad Film

[billcr12 · 7/10 · 31 December 2019]

I guess the viewers reaction to this film will depend on their background. I was raised Catholic but I describe myself as RC(retired Catholic) so my perspective is as a non-believer. The cameras follow desperate pilgrims seeking miraculous interventions by the Virgin Mary. The stories are heartbreaking as the disabled, mostly in wheelchairs, pray for cures, and at one point are bathed in Lourdes water hoping for salvation. Like George Carlin, I have tried to believe, but the older I get, the less I believe in an afterlife or divine intervention. Even with this caveat, I can recommend this beautiful film.

A profound mystery

[demma52 · 10/10 · 1 January 2020]

A profound meditation on faith and suffering that takes you behind the scenes at Lourdes to witness the process of carring for the many ill and diisabled who come to Lourdes, hoping to be cured. The film itself does not take a position on the veracity of cures reported, it simply shows you a long line of suffering beings and the complicated procedures the many nurses and workers must go through to care for the sick - procedures that are quite complicated when it comes to bathing the sick, caring for their bathroom needs (and accidents), transporting them to the grotto and the processions. If there is a mracle of faith here it lies partly in the great dedication of these workers, who number in the hundreds. The filmmakers have chosen to focus on four parrtiular individuals and their life stories, as a way of personalizing the throng of thousands who come to Lourdes. Deeply moving film that surprised me by this look behind the scenes at Lourdes. There is so much that we healthy individuals take for granted. The faith on display here is truly astonishing.

Raw and difficult to watch, but still a must see

[strunckjl · 9/10 · 9 February 2023]

I would consider this to be a must watch documentary, at least once. It discusses people in a way that we're not used to seeing in our comfortable and privileged lives.

First of all, this is not a religious documentary. Although religion is one of the two centerpieces, it makes no statements on the validity of the Catholic religion, Catholic beliefs, or the miracles that have allegedly taken place at Lourdes. Although the opening states that 7000 miracles have been documented and the church acknowledges that it considers 70 of those to be genuine.

Instead, the documentary focuses on the people-both the visitors there and the volunteers/workers. By focusing on the people, it makes the audience two questions: 1) why does God allow such suffering to exist? 2) what can we do about it? The documentary makes an implied answer, but still leaves room for the viewer to draw their own conclusions

The documentary is extremely raw, which is both its biggest strength and weakness. We know very little about the people pictured in the documentary or what is taking place there. There's no narrator to explain anything, which is allows us to connect to the people there as they are and not to get swept away in judgment or self-righteousness. However, the rawness can make it confusing and difficult to follow at times. Blink and you may miss something; take a bathroom break and you may come back feeling lost.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

[shubackalan · 8 May 2021]

Your reviewer speaks of a woman appearing as the Immaculate Conception. This is impossible. The Immaculate Conception is the idea that the Virgin Mary was conceived without original sin. It is a concept, a belief, not a being or incarnation.