Lourdes (Jessica Hausner, 2009)

An exploration of the nature of idolatry told from the perspective of a disabled woman on a group pilgrimage to the shrine, Lourdes hides its disaffection under an unassuming exterior, just like its protagonist. The target it rails against is the ecclesiastical grifting that goes on around the site, promising miracles to the credulous and desperate while at the same time holding their lack of faith as the cause of their physical plight. It achieves much more through being so understated than a full frontal assault might do, the barbs subtly interwoven amongst dull factual representation of interminable ceremonies and blessings, subtly enough that fervent believers might not even notice the criticism while starting to feel increasingly uncomfortable at the interaction of the pilgrims and their supposed helpers. This is a small feat on the part of the director, alongside the exposure of the hypocrisy of both parties as the young woman miraculously regains the ability to walk and is met with false smiles veiling jealous asides about her lack of piety and how that makes her undeserving of her recovery.

7/10