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Holy Tour is a French drama-comedy film directed by Méryl Fortunat-Rossi and Valéry Rosier. The movie was released in 2018 and has a running time of 1 hour and 22 minutes. The movie captures the lives of people who have a strong religious inclination and are on a pilgrimage tour to various holy sites across Europe. The movie begins with an introductory scene, where we see a group of people waking up early in the morning to get ready for a day-long bus journey to explore various holy sites in different parts of the continent. The tour guide, named Guy, is the one to keep the group together, and he does so by regularly explaining to the travelers the history, significance, and mythology associated with the places they visit.

The first part of the movie focuses on the group dynamics and introduces us to the various characters that make up this diverse group of travelers. The group consists of people from different backgrounds, ages, and nationalities, who come together bound by their faith and desire to explore holy places. Each person in the group is dealing with their own personal struggles, and through their interactions with each other, we get glimpses of their lives, their belief systems, and their perspectives.

Throughout the movie, the group travels to different holy sites, including cathedrals, shrines, and monasteries, in different countries across Europe. The travelers are fascinated by the architecture, art, and rich history associated with these holy places, and it is evident in their enthusiastic and appreciative reactions to everything they see.

The second part of the movie delves deeper into the character's stories, and their lives outside the pilgrimage. For instance, there's a married couple who is struggling to reconnect after their child's death, a man who is dealing with anxiety and panic attacks, a woman who has left her husband and children to pursue her spiritual awakening, a couple who is going through a rocky patch in their relationship, among others. We see each of them trying to make sense of their life's choices and seeking answers to dilemmas they're facing.

We witness how their pilgrimage tour serves as a crucial turning point in their life journey, where they find solace, reassurance, and a sense of belonging. For some, it is a time to renew their faith, while for others, it is a moment to question it. Despite their personal issues, the group is united by a shared sense of purpose, and the pilgrimage tour serves as a platform for them to bond and find comfort in each other.

Holy Tour is an observational movie, and the filmmakers choose not to impose their opinions or biases on the characters' experiences or perceptions. Instead, they allow the audience to witness the characters' journeys from a distance and interpret their actions from their own perspective. This approach creates a natural and authentic feel, and the viewers get a glimpse into the lives of people who are trying to make sense of the world through their religious beliefs.

The movie's pacing is slow, and this allows the audience to absorb the details and emotions associated with each of the characters' experiences. The handheld camera techniques and the naturalistic soundscapes add to the movie's realism and make it appear more like a documentary than a fictional world.

The movie's strength lies in its ability to connect with the audience through emotions and experiences rather than plot or story arcs. Holy Tour is a movie that resonates with anyone who has experienced a sense of spiritual awakening or is struggling to find their place in the world. It is also a movie that celebrates diversity and brings to the forefront our shared human experiences that transcend geographical, political, or religious boundaries.

In conclusion, Holy Tour is a beautifully crafted movie that explores the personal and spiritual journeys of a group of people on a pilgrimage tour across Europe. Its strength lies in its ability to create a natural and authentic feel, and this allows the audience to relate to the characters and their experiences from their own perspective. The movie's pacing is slow, and it allows the audience to absorb the details and emotions associated with each of the characters' experiences. Holy Tour is a movie that will appeal to anyone who is looking for an emotional and spiritual journey that celebrates the diversity of the human experience.