Fortuna

Filmed in stark black and white, bald, austere , slow-moving , "Fortuna" reminds the viewer of Robert Bresson's first movies.

Fortuna ,an Ethopian refugee is given shelter ,with other people ,in a monastery in the mountains ;is the right of asylum the old sanctuary of the Middle -Ages?

People from various religions :the heroine is a true believer who puts her trust in Virgin Mary.She's pregnant by a young married muslim who already has his own family.Fortuna prays ceaselessly for her parents'return ;she is obsessed by water (after a long voyage by sea,she winds up in a bare land covered with snow ;she hints at the Biblical Deluge )

The monks themselves (one of them played by highly talented Bruno Ganz ) have their moments of doubt: can we accept that the police violate our sacred place? Can this girl have an abortion? Is the Church always right? Is it infallible when they deal with good and bad?

The ending is open although the last picture gives us a clue.

Gorgeous looking film with great composition and solid directing. A simple story filled with complex characters, presents a few very interesting dilemmas like if it is right or not to make a decision for someone else even if we think he/she is not ready to do so, among others of the same nature.

Not a very rewachable movie, but happy that i saw it atleast once.