Customer Reviews

Her Name Is Sabine

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I love foreign films and documentaries and this film is why. Sandrine just puts the camera on her sister Sabine and lets it speak for itself. Mixed in are the enchanting home movies from Sabine's youth. As a good documentary should do Sandrine doesn't try to shape the film into anything other than what it is. Fortunately things were improving towards the end of the film, I don't know if I could have handled it if they were not. See this film, you will not regret it!

What is most remarkable about this movie is the contrast between the earlier footage of Sabine's youth and the later footage of her after being institutionalized and highly medicated. It seems that independent integrated living for the disabled is as much a quandary in France as here. One moment I liked is when the mother of one of Sabine's fellow residents describes the effects of taking her son's medication by accident. There's also what struck me as a sort of unusual definition of autism by one of Sabine's caseworkers. But what is most unforgettable and makes this film a must see is a scene where Sabine herself is shown the film of her earlier life.

A moving documentary about the autistic sister of a great french actress, Sadrine Bonnaire (La Ceremonie, Vagabond - Criterion Collection, etc.). She is known for her roles of complex and rebellious woman and this documentary is no different.

It is a very personal look at how autism is treated with a message of hope for the future. The footage of their childhood broke my heart, especially when Sabine watches the video of herself as a child. A truly amazing piece of filmmaking that made me appreciate Sabrine Bonnaire even more. What extraordinary women!

Have to "confess"

that I went to the screening of this documentary

because of a long appreciation of Sandrine Bonnaire's unique presense as an actress/

How to describe her? Earthy, delicate , soulful/ akin to a german shepherd perhaps ...

Here is a film she made devoted to her sister, Sabine

Just exquisite & transcends catagories /

It is full of humor and empathy and pathos/

Bravo! Here is a sampling of humanity in its more compassionate dimension all around ..

See this.

This piece lends values of caregiving, sisterhood , all fleshed out & visceral, and in the moment,

Exuberant and joyous , too by the way .. see this!

So beautiful. So gifted. But with a neurological problem which causes her to lash out at herself and others. Her mother and siblings are bewildered, and unsure how to help her. As life takes its course and her siblings move away to their families and careers, Sabine, stuck in childhood, feels angry and abandoned. Her behavior deteriorates, and after trying to find other solutions, she is institutionalized. The toxic medications and shock of the experience leave her devastated.

This film picks up at a point in which Sabine has been removed from the institution, and placed into a group care home by her sister Sandrine. Sandrine Bonnaire, the auteur of this film, and a famous French actress, had lobbied to create the group home simply to improve her sister Sabine's life. This film follows the day to day life of Sabine and the handful of other residents. Personalized compassionate care is given each one; at first I felt outraged they were not allowed to rest, or the epileptic given a wheelchair. Then I realized, the staff makes a constant effort to push each one just past the point of comfort, to keep them from stagnating. When they truly cannot, the staff steps in without judgment. Indeed, as the staff are drooled on, spat at, bitten and hit, and never lose temper, one sees why there are so few homes like this. Such saints do not grow on trees. It is very touching how endlessly patient the staff are with the residents of the group home.

This is not a film to watch if you become sad easily. This is not a feel good 'triumph of the spirit' movie. This is daily life put to film. The good news is that Sabine improved after living in this group home. The bad news is that for her and the other residents, this house in the country, with flies buzzing, and day trips to buy some clothes, or eat at a fast food place, are as good as it gets. Sandrine Bonnaire has made a gem of a love letter to her sister. We cannot forget her or the other residents. Her name is Sabine; and this film is heartbreaking.

I just recently watched Sandrine Bonnaire's excellent film about chess- Queen to Play- and found the movie Sabine as a result of the discovery of the film about chess.

Sandrine Bonnaire makes a hauntingly lovely film about her impaired sister and manages to do so in a loving way which I thought was not exploitative. As someone who is familiar with individuals who have similar syndromes, I found the film very true to life but also wondered about the accuracy of the diagnosis of autism. I was also curious as regards the obvious decline in Sabine's disease- was this due to medication/damage (as the film suggests) or to the progression of the condition? It seems to me that Sandrine Bonnaire's portrayal of the title character in the Vagabonde may have been influenced by her exposure to Sabine.

The film makes the clear point that families- including those of the rich and powerful- must struggle mightily to provide humane decent care for their relatives- and that much of the struggle is left to each family to develop on their own.

The film is ultimately haunting, affecting and true-to-life. I agree with other reviewers that the individuals who patiently provide care to Sabine and her housemates and who in other settings are often poorly compensated for this difficult work- deserve recognition.

Words fail me as I wrap my mind around this documentary. The love of Sandrine and the family shines throughout, and is very touching. No stranger to those with special needs and their issues, I had several thoughts as I watched. The difficulty in finding quality care. The guilt felt by others for various decisions and situations. The stranglehold of drugs (aka medications). The subjective definition of illnesses, like the one a caseworker defines for autism. The heartbreak of watching Sabine watch the film of her trip to NY as a younger woman. Her dreams of a husband (fireman) and "capable of having babies." There is so much in this film. Amazing and moving.

It will take me a few days to settle my feelings about this film. It was a great film, a testament to a sister's love and to the dedication of people who work with severly autistic and brain damaged individuals. I think every teacher and other humans should see this. It is hard to watch but you have to.