Stars: Dora Van Der Groen, Ann Petersen, Rosemarie Bergmans, Idwig Stephane

Director: Lieven Debrauwer

Summary: The tale of two sisters, Pauline and Paulette. Pauline has the mental age of a child and when her caretaker dies, Paulette must decide who must now care for her sister. Dutch dialogue with subtitles.

A sweet, simple film about four sisters in their 60s who are beginning to face the challenges--financial and familial--of growing older, PAULINE AND PAULETTE is a realistic, light, and quietly inspiring story. Pauline (Dora van der Groen) is a mildly retarded woman who has always been cared for by her older sister Martha (Chris Boni). Living in the quiet Dutch town of Lochristi, life is easy. Pauline wakes in the morning and happily waters her flowers outside with wide, easy sweeps of her watering can. She eats her toast and tea, prepared by Martha, and goes to the butcher shop with Martha's list of what to buy. Her favorite part of the day is peering in the window of the dress shop owned by her other sister, Paulette (Ann Petersen), who she adores. But when Martha suddenly passes away, leaving a clause in her will that requires Paulette and a fourth sister, Cecile (Chris Lomme), to care for Pauline, the ease and routine of Pauline's life is lost. Neither Cecile, who lives with her fiance in Brussels, or Paulette, who is busy with her shop and her local opera performances, wants the responsibility of caring for Pauline. However, with a little generosity and some patience, things work themselves out. PAULINE AND PAULETTE is a kind tale told with artful honesty.

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As a rule, Flemish-language films rarely make much of an international impact, but Pauline & Paulette is a refreshing exception. Director Lieven Debrauwer's debut is an affectionate coming-together of two sisters: the mentally-restricted Pauline, living in a world of flowers and fantasy, and Paulette, her life occupied with lingerie and operetta. The story focuses on the exasperation of Pauline as she is shunted between provincial Belgium and Brussels and the realisation of Paulette, having retired to the coast, that a sister in her life might not be a bad option after all. The interplay between veteran actresses Dora van der Groen and Ann Petersen is minutely observed in detail, with the remaining cast a triumph of ensemble acting, not least Rosemarie Bergmans as the sophisticated "other sister" Cecile and Idwig Stéphane as the pompous Albert. At just 72 minutes, the film is almost too taut for its own good, but if this was Debrauwer's way of avoiding the sentimental, so much the better. Witty and touching in equal measure, this is a film to savour.

On the DVD:Pauline & Paulette has a 1.85:1 widescreen picture format that captures the flowers and clothing of Paulette's shop with gorgeous realism. There are subtitles in five languages. The original trailer is included, and there's an insightful running commentary from Debrauwer. --Richard Whitehouse

Aspect Ratio:	1.85 Wide Screen, 16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Main Language:	Flemish
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Directors Commentary, Trailer
Subtitles:	Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish
Year:	2001
Release Date:	October 28, 2002
Runtime:	75 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	C D R 33538
Keywords:	Subtitled, General, Wide, Screen, Dutch, Drama, Pauline, Paulette
Genre:	Drama