Les bureaux de Dieu (God’s Offices)

Questions about contraception and sexuality, the decision for or against an abortion, family and cultural demands on women are discussed at a counselling centre in Paris. Social workers and doctors are often the only point of contact for girls and women of all ages seeking information and support to make self-determined decisions about their bodies and their lives. For Les bureaux de Dieu, Claire Simon combines the documentary and the fictional, using tape transcripts of real counselling sessions as a basis for dialogue. The social workers are played by well-known actresses (including Anne Alvaro, Nathalie Baye, Isabelle Carré, Béatrice Dalle, Nicole Garcia), while the clients are played by non-professional actresses. (Andrea Pollach)

Photo: Austrian Film Museum