PAULINE AND PAULETTE International Competition

Reminiscent of WHAT’S EATING GILBERT GRAPE in tone and in themes, director Debrauwer’s debut film, PAULINE & PAULETTE, was a huge success in Belgium, starring two of Belgium’s favorite actresses on screen together for the first time.

PAULINE & PAULETTE is a bittersweet story about the ties between four sisters, Martha, Cecile, Pauline and Paulette. Pauline, a 66-year-old “little girl” is unable to read, write or take care of herself. Paulette has a shop to look after, and Cecile has her Albert. Everything changes with Martha’s sudden death: according to Martha’s last will, her fortune will only be divided in three equal parts if one of the sisters looks after Pauline. If they decide to take her to an institution, Pauline will be the only heir.

Avoiding melodrama, Lieven Debrauwer’s lovingly crafted debut feature derives a great deal of emotional power from a textural blend of music (Tchaikovsky’s Waltz of the Flowers) and a visceral kaleidoscope of color