Pauline & Paulette

A FILM BY Lieven Debrauwer

It leaves you with a bittersweet glow of wisdom and an appreciation of the small triumphs and difficult labors of love.
-A.O. Scott, NEW YORK TIMES
A heartwarmer. Its delicacy and tenderness will get to you!
-Jay Carr, BOSTON GLOBE
Simple, poignant and leavened with humor, it's a film that affirms the nourishing aspects of love and companionship.""""
-Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Synopsis

A delightfully bittersweet story of four elderly sisters and their relationship with each other. For Pauline (Belgium's national treasure, Dora van der Groen), life is simple. She lives with Martha, the eldest, in a small town between Brussels and the seacoast. Martha loves Pauline, and cares for her day in and day out. Pauline has a love for flowers and enjoys running errands in town for her sister Paulette - her idol. Paulette owns a fabric store in town, but her passion is performing at the opera house. When Martha suddenly dies, everyone's world is turned upside down. Neither Paulette or their youngest sister Cecile, who lives in Brussels with her French boyfriend, feel their lives can include the responsibility of caring for their simple minded sister. Both are in agreement to commit Pauline to a nursing home, Martha ultimately dictates the final word, stipulating in her will all her possessions would go to the three sisters on the condition that one of them care for Pauline.

Original Languages: Flemish
Genre: Comedy, Drama, World Cinema
Running Time: 78 min.
Year: 2001

CREDITS

CAST
Ann Petersen
Dora van der Groen
Rosemarie Bergmans
DIRECTED BY
Lieven Debrauwer

PHOTOS