Experienced and war traumatized journalist Jacques (Vincent Lindon) is sent by the Vatican to head an investigative commission meant to get to the bottom of a Marian apparition in rural southern France. Fortune teller Anna (Galatea Bellugi) is a very young novice. Her vision has kicked off a big international pilgrimage when the commission begins working. The image of Anna with the mother of god is everywhere, a new church is meant to be build, and pilgrims want to ge close to her. The girl herself is humble, docile, and unpretentious. While Jacques and the commission go after the potential fraud case using forensic methods, the journalist starts seeing Anna as who she is besides her testimony: an orphan leading a frugal existence who has a psychological dependency and carries around a very earthly secret with her. It isn‘t just the suspicion of a supernatural encounter that imbues her with a spiritual aura: Anna genuinely seems like she is connected to the transcendent.

Jacques‘ absolute faith in rationality makes for a thrilling hunt that leads him to the boundaries of what can be proven. The film‘s sound also moves between groundedness and ethereal sounds: there‘s the unobtrusive sounds pointing to the sensually real and the religious music of Arvo Pärt that suggest a spiritual sphere. Anna has set “her heart on something“ in this undecided position. The message of Marien‘s love is to advocate for refugees. In the end, a surprising turn makes for a resolution that is both satisfying and asks the big questions all over again.

Anna Stemmler

Translation: Elinor Lewy