Pauline (Dora van der Groen) is a 66-year-old mentally retarded woman who lives with her sister Martha (Julienne De Bruyn) in a small town in Belgium. Her days follow a structured routine beginning with watering the flowers in the garden, eating breakfast, doing small errands such as going to the butcher's shop, and then, best of all, pasting pictures of flowers into her scrapbook. However, when Martha suddenly dies, Pauline's schedule is interrupted and thrown off kilter. But she is thrilled to move in temporarily with Paulette (Ann Petersen), her favorite sister who runs a lingerie shop and has been singing in a local operetta for 30 years.

Once Cecile (Rosemarie Bergmans), the fourth sister, arrives for the funeral from Brussels, Paulette is quick to let her know that she'll have to look after Pauline and share the burden. She's quite upset over the embarrassment of having Pauline walk out on the stage during a performance and ask to have her shoe tied. Cecile reluctantly takes in her mentally challenged sister but her critical lover Albert (Idwig Stephane) can't abide having this intruder in the house interfering with their privacy. Knowing that she is not wanted there, the resourceful Pauline returns to Paulette.

Martha specified in her will that her money was to be divided between all three sisters provided one of them takes care of Pauline. If she is put in a nursing home, all the money is to go to her. Paulette, who is retiring from her business and moving to a small place near the sea, decides that this is the best solution for everyone.

Lieven Debrauwer directs this brief but tender drama from Belgium with a light touch, paying attention to the minute details and small moments of grace. One of the best is watching Pauline swinging the water can in wide arcs as she showers the plants in her sister's garden with love. Another is her obsession with the rose patterned wrapping paper that Paulette uses to wrap gifts: she just can't get enough of this luxurious stuff. To her it is manna from heaven. We recall an observation by Robert Farrar Capon: "The tin foil collectors and the fancy ribbon savers may be absurd but they're not crazy. They are the ones who still retain the capacity for wonder that is the root of caring." That is what makes Pauline a spiritual teacher. She lives in constant wonder.

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