An elderly woman who can't take care of herself becomes the center of a family squabble in this moving drama. Pauline (Dora van der Groen) is a severely retarded woman who, at the age of 66, cannot read, speak in complete sentences, or even tie her own shoes. Despite her handicap, Pauline is happy, and can run simple errands; she lives with her older sister Martha (Julienne De Bruyn), but Pauline has always been especially fond of one of her other siblings, Paulette (Ann Petersen), and Pauline
would gladly spend the day puttering around Paulette's sewing supplies store if Martha didn't stop her. When Martha dies, Paulette and another sibling, Cecile (Rosemarie Bergmans), discover Martha's will stipulates that if one of the surviving sisters will take in Pauline and care for her, her money will be evenly divided three ways between Pauline, Paulette, and Cecile -- but if she's given to others or placed in a home, the entire inheritance will go to Pauline. Paulette reluctantly agrees to take in her sister, but her compassion soon proves to be in short supply as she begins hatching a plan to close down her shop and move away, leaving Pauline behind. Pauline et Paulette was the first feature film from director Lieven Debrauwer. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
Yet another iteration of what's become one of the movies' creepiest conventions, in which the developmentally disabled are portrayed with almost supernatural powers to humble, teach and ultimately redeem their mentally "superior" friends, family...
The film's plainness, and the understated force of van der Groen and Petersen's performances, sharpen its complexity of feeling until all mawkishness is cut away.
Writer-director Debrauwer does manage to wrap things up in an ***-pleasing 78 minutes. It's isn't much, but it's a lot more than callous Callie Khouri did with that "Ya-Ya" mess. Also, there are no irritating hats.
A wonderfully sweet and simple film, sentimental but never sappy. I found it completely absorbing thanks to outstanding performances and great art direction, I especially loved the use of colour. I have not come across a film that portrays someone that is mentally challenged (and their caregiver,) in a way that felt
this authentic.
I rented this on a whim one day and totally fell in love with it. My favorite scene is when Pauline is watering her sister's garden with a HUGE watering can.
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