Win copy of Her Name is Sabine DVD

DIRECTED by César Award winning actress Sandrine Bonnaire, Her Name is Sabine was described by The International Federation of Film Critics at Cannes, 2007, as "the most beautiful film that Cannes has given us this year".

To mark the release of the DVD of this extraordinary documentary by ICA Films here is a chance to win a piece of astonishing film making.

Her Name is Sabine is a sensitive and very personal portrait of Sandrine’s younger sister Sabine.

Combining film footage taken at Sabine’s current care home as well as 25 years of home movies, Sandrine charts the disturbing and heartbreaking journey of her sister from a young independent woman with special needs to an adult in need of constant supervision.

Once lively, vivacious and talented, Sabine taught herself to play Bach on the piano, loved to travel and had a real capacity to enjoy life.

As her elder sisters grew up and began to leave home, it was left to their mother to take sole charge of Sabine. Initially, Sabine was able to visit her sisters, but a move to the country made this more and more difficult and Sabine gradually became withdrawn and agitated.

With her mother unable to cope, the only solution seemed to be institutional care. However, five years in a psychiatric hospital crushed Sabine’s spirit and abilities as she succumbed to the inadequate system of state institutions.

The contrast between the young girl in the early home movies and the dispirited 38-year-old woman is shocking and devastating, but there is hope.

With the love and unwavering support of her family, and the proper care Sabine is receiving in a home in the Charente region, she is slowly beginning to claw back some of her dignity and spirit.

This is Sandrine Bonnaire's first film as a director and she is one France’s best known actresses, having won a French best actress César for her role as the aimless vagrant in Agnes Varda's haunting "Vagabond" (1985).

To enter please leave a message in the comment form below, for example 'please enter me into the competition', but make sure your email address is correct, and just one entry per email address.

A message will be picked at random as the winner. Closing date for the competition is Friday, October 17, 2008 at 11am Paris time.

THE COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED

Comments

[Rachelle Tobias]

Please enter me into the competition

[Philip Voice]

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With the dark evenings I am looking forward to watching some good films

[Rosie]

The film sounds very thought provoking, and would make a change from some of the violent and often meaningless films around at present. At least it is true.I should like to see this.

[debbie rolls]

Please enter me into the competition

[Warren Jacobs]

Please enter me into the competition, film sounds very interesting.

[Jane Willis]

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[Angie Armitage]

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[Andy]

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[Natalie di Marco]

Please, please, please enter me into the competition

[Cynthia White]

Salut;

Please enter me in your contest to win the film "Sabine" it sounds like a very real and honest look into human kindness .

[andy jeffery]

Please, please enter me into the competition whatb a fab prize

[Marie-Antoinette Keeran]

Please enter me in the competition.

[Joy Johnson]

Please enter me into the competition. I would really love to see such a beautiful film.

[bob stocks]

Please enter me into the competition

[Debbi]

Please enter me into the competition. Thanks!

[Christina Pippard]

I am hoping that if I win this interesting film /- I will gain a much more enlightenend understanding of the difficulties faced by young people entering Institutions and how after a relatively short period of time they become ''institutionalised''

[Jim Latto]

please enter me into the competition

[Lisa]

I would love to win this film. I am an independent filmmaker from NY. My short is being screened in festivals in Europe right now. I am familiar with all of Sandrine Bonnaire's films and am always on the hunt for a like-minded female voice. Brava to her for what sounds like a rare and poignant film.

[cheryl pasquier]

I've never heard of it but it sounds very interesting and moving. Please enter me in the giveaway too !

[Stu]

please enter me into this competition