Lourdes TV – Paulien Oltheten

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Paulien Oltheten’s girlfriend develops a psychosis and slowly disappears from her life. During sleepless nights surfing the Internet, Paulien chances upon a WebCam that films the Grotto of Apparitions in Lourdes 24/7. The ritualized actions she follows for months offer solace to her despairing thoughts. 

For a year she makes recordings of the 24/7 live stream of the grotto at Lourdes. With fascination and a humorous gaze, she follows the daily rituals of the priests, nuns, and pilgrims as they prepare for mass or shuffle in and out of view. 

Why can’t she detach herself from these people who cling wholeheartedly to the Virgin Mary? Is it to get a grip on her girlfriend’s mystical delusions? 

In this poetic fixed-camera-frame film a story about gradually letting go of a loved one takes shape.

17:00 Doors open

17:30 Introduction Paulien Oltheten & Inez Piso-Tuncay

17:35 Screening Lourdes TV

19:10 Conversation

19:30 Bar open & soup 

This screening is made possible by: SoAP