Slalom

Married skiing coach and a 15 yo teen student story. Coach has high hope on the teen and can't resist her charm. Sex is sex, go and find others outside but not screw his own goal. So simple concept. This part didn't logical n add up. Film is not bad just hard for me the buy the storyline.

If you read the synopsis of this movie, it is really easy to write it off as another #metoo tale, but it actually a pretty singular story and more complex than that. The coach (Jeremie Renier) is certainly abusive, but he is not a one-dimensional predator. He seems genuinely focused on being a coach and is not simply "grooming" the teenage protagonist (Noee Abita). It is perfectly acceptable for elite coaches of underage athletes to be physically and emotionally abusive--he just takes it a step farther and is sexually abusive as well. The teenager is certainly confused and traumatized by what is happening, but still remains in the orbit of this charismatic authority figure. I won't spoil the ending, but it will frustrate those expecting a morally unambiguous #metoo message. This movie actually reminded of the recent American film "Diary of a Teenage Girl" in that it refuses to impose a clear moral on the narrative, but leaves it to the viewer to draw their own.

I find most of these movies a little hypocritical since they always seem find an incredibly attractive 20-year-old to play the "teenager" and an incredibly attractive 35 year old to play the older predator, and French movies always seem to add some teenage (or rather "teenage") nudity. But both actors are excellent and quite believable as elite athletes. The sex scenes are both hot (because of the actors involved) and troubling (because of the story) at the same time, so you just have to deal with that. The skiing scenes are simply wonderful , and its a very beautiful looking movie. You can decide for yourself what the moral is.

Do you want to be a coach or an Olympic medalist or simply live a normal life with your family? This is a movie of isolation, ambition, and dependence on the help of strangers. The lead actress carries the movie away and supported by a well rounded cast. The movie is told in her eyes of a 15 year old navigator through the world of adults, alone and without anyone who truly knows her. Her isolation is her greatest enemy as events unfold around her as she seeks to be a great athlete. The acting is great. The cinematography enchants the eyes. The subject matter is rough, but trusts the viewers to understand the lead through an empathetic and worried lense. This is not an easy film, but certainly rewarding for those that stick through it.

It seems to me that the approach on the subject was an excellent decision, the way the story shows you moments that could make us think in one way and then others that destabilize the ideas already formed. What I enjoyed the most was the direction! As at many times it was fierce, elegant, bold and captivating.

This film can easily be considered as a sport movie, but with many other elements involved in it, not only training and performances. This is mostly the relationship between a coach and his teen athlete whom he is in charge of. Good character study, very smart, intelligent and accurate. Acting and directing flawless, especially Jeremy Renier, excellent in this role. There were not so many movies in the French film industry speaking of skiing. In the USA you had DOWNHILL RACER, the most famous, but in France, I don't see another feature. That doesn't mean there is not any...Simple scheme, already told before, but here brilliantly done, I repeat. Could also have been made as a short movie; but it is of course better as a long length. And as a first picture, it is very promising. A female director to follow.