Slalom
This riveting, Cannes-selected #MeToo drama from debut filmmaker Charlène Favier follows the relationship between a teenage ski prodigy and her predatory instructor, played by frequent Dardenne brothers collaborator Jérémie Renier. In a breakthrough role, Noée Abita plays 15-year-old Lyz, a high school student in the French Alps who has been accepted to an elite ski club known for producing some of the country’s top professional athletes. Taking a chance on his new recruit, ex-champion turned coach Fred decides to mold Lyz into his shining star despite her lack of experience. Under his influence, she will have to endure more than the physical and emotional pressure of the training. Will Lyz’s determination help her escape Fred’s exploitative grip?
“Snaps across your face like a blast of cold mountain air... Shot with the kineticism of bodies in motion and the sensitivity of an early Céline Sciamma film.”
“This tense, bone-chilling first feature... looks at how teenage girls are often punished for their boldness.”
“Impeccably acted and beautifully shot.”
“Perceptively performed and deeply enraging.”
“Everything about this hard-hitting film is restrained, like a breath tightly held, and all the more powerful for it.”
“Beautifully directed and performed.”
Jérémie Renier
Marie Denarnaud
Muriel Combeau
Maïra Schmitt
Axel Auriant
Writers Charlène Favier and Marie Talon
