Jessica Hausner's observational approach to Lourdes' paradox would almost position her between roles of watchful deity and documentary filmmaker, though either description is too generous for what is a minor achievement. Well directed and well acted though her film may be, Hausner questionably engages with the experience and response of her characters, contriving to say more with crafted images than with human gestures and dialogue. Like a give/take game, this is involving but trivial.

"A deliberately paced examination of Catholic mysticism with sharp sprinkles of magical realism." - Joseph Jon Lanthier

Young woman, almost completely paralyzed by MS, goes to Lourdes to pray for a miracle (also because pilgrimage is pretty much the only way to get out of the house when you're confined to a wheelchair). What happens when it looks like she actually gets what she's praying for? Slow but not too slow, lets people say one thing - everyone's a devout catholic, specifically there to be heard - and then lets the camera say more. Or less, as the case may be. Fair, ambiguous, tragicomic, beautiful.

Hausner's schematic approach to debunking religion is predictable and unfunny.