The film, underscoring the plights of pilgrims in search of healing, premieres February 8 and 9
MADRID, Jan. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fathom Events, in partnership with Bosco Films and Distrib Films US, announces the U.S. debut of Lourdes, coming to over 700 theaters nationwide on February 8 and 9. The documentary tells the compelling stories of six fragile pilgrims each in search of a miracle at Our Lady of Lourdes, a sanctuary in the south of France that has drawn thousands of travelers daily since the first apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1858.
While numerous made-for-television dramas, feature films, and special reports have been made about the grotto in the breathtakingly beautiful mountain town, Lourdes is the first and only documentary to take a closer look at the pilgrims.
View Trailer HERE
The film's directors, Thierry Demaizère and Alban Teurlai, were inspired to pursue the project after listening to an account of a friend who had recently visited Lourdes. "To our great surprise, there has not been a film made about the pilgrims, nothing that follows their steps–why they come, what they expect, what Our Lady represents for them," observed Demaizère and Teurlai. "We knew immediately that this was a story that needed to be told and can't wait for people to see it in theaters."
The pilgrims profiled in the documentary, along with their caregivers, represent an interesting cross-section of humanity– accident victims, the terminally ill, an overweight and bullied teenager, and more. They all offer an alchemy of suffering, hope, and joy, from diverse backgrounds of religious faith in the face of profound tribulation.
Dr. Alessandro de Franciscis, MD, a devout Catholic and a practicing physician for more than 40 years, is featured in bonus content that exclusively accompanies the theatrical release of Lourdes in the U.S. As the President of the Lourdes Office of Medical Observations since 2009, he is tasked with overseeing the medical analyses of alleged cures for those who drink and get washed of the waters of Lourdes - evaluating them according to a rubric that is both rigorous and rational.
"While only 70 cases to date have been declared miraculous by the church, more than 7,000 cases of unexplained cures have been investigated medically and scientifically. There is a vulnerable human person behind every one of these cases, and Lourdes fixes its gaze at some of these remarkable stories," notes Dr. de Franciscis. "In the face of such suffering in terms of sickness, handicap, and deformity, audiences will see that there is also joy. The liturgies and daily processions at Lourdes are signs of this and of our communion as Catholics, as disciples of Jesus and common sons and daughters of his Mother."
Nominated for Best Documentary at the César Awards of the French Film Academy and at the prestigious DOCVILLE Awards, Lourdes can be seen in French with English subtitles on February 8 and in Spanish with English subtitles on February 9.
Tickets are on sale now at Fathom Events or at participating theater box offices. For a complete list of theater locations, visit www.fathomevents.com(theaters are subject to change).
Martha Calderón, spokesperson for Bosco Films, and Dr. Alessandro de Franciscis are available for interviews in English and Spanish.
Media Contacts:
Carrie Kline
Mission Advancement Partners
carriek@revolutionizingmissions.com
Colette Carey
Fathom Events
ccarey@fathomevents.com
About Fathom Events
Fathom Events is a recognized leader in the entertainment industry as one of the top distributors of content to movie theaters in North America. Owned by AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC); Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK); and Regal, a subsidiary of the Cineworld Group (LSE: CINE.L), Fathom operates the largest cinema distribution network, delivering a wide variety of programming and experiences to cinema audiences in all the top U.S. markets and to more than 45 countries. For more information, visit FathomEvents.com.
About Bosco Films
Born in 2017, Bosco Films seeks films of high artistic quality, with stories that defend human values. Its interest is cinema that invites you to grow and bring out the best in everyone, cinema that leaves a mark on the viewer like the most robust of trees: fresh, alive and at the same time remains firm in the face of the passage of time. For more information, visit https://www.boscofilms.es/.
About Distrib Films US
Distrib Films US is a company with years of industry experience both in Europe and the US. Distrib Films US' goal is to establish itself as one of the leading distributors of high-quality French and European films in the US. For more information, visit https://www.distribfilmsus.com/.
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SOURCE Fathom Events
