PAULINE ET PAULETTE
aka PAULINE AND PAULETTE

Year: 2000
USA: Sony Pictures Classics
UK: Columbia TriStar
Cast: Dora van der Groen, Ann Petersen, Rosemarie Bergmans, Idwig Stephane, Julienne De Bruyn, Camilia Blereau, François Beukelaers, Nand Buyl, Warre Borgmans, Magda Cnudde, Herman Coessens, Koen Crucke, Ingrid De Vos, Jef Demedts, Bouli Lanners, Linda Lepomme, Machteld Ramoudt, Jenny Tanghe, Raymond Van Herbergen, Suzy Van Herbergen
Director: Lieven Debrauwer
Countries: Belgium / France / Netherlands
Language: Dutch (English subtitles)
USA: 78 mins
UK: 77 mins
USA Rated: PG for brief language
UK Certificate: PG contains mild language
USA Release Date: 15 March 2002
UK Release Date: 12 April 2002

Synopsis

PAULINE AND PAULETTE is 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 (Julienne De Bruyn), the eldest of her four sisters, 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 (Ann Petersen) - her idol. Paulette owns a fabric store in town, but her grand 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 (Rosemarie Berghmans), who lives in Brussels with her French boyfriend (Idwig Stephane), feel their lives can include the responsibility of caring for their simple minded sister. While both are in agreement to commit Pauline to a nursing home, Martha ultimately dictates the final word, stipulating in her will that all her worldly possessions would go to the three surviving sisters on the condition that one of them care for Pauline.

PAULINE AND PAULETTE, was a selection of the Director's Fortnight at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival. This film unites two of Belgium's greatest actresses, Dora van der Groen, and Ann Petersen, for the first time on film. Making his feature film directorial debut is director and co-writer Lieven Debrauwer, who based the story on his childhood memories which were so vivid, it spurred him into making a film.