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.
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.