17/20
But Julie decides to keep quiet
Narrative
Julie is a star player at an elite tennis academy. When her coach falls under investigation and is suddenly suspended, all of the club's players are encouraged to speak up. Official submission of Belgium for the 'Best International Feature Film' category of the 97th Academy Awards in 2025..
This visual motif hints at her isolation and inner turmoil, drawing the viewer in with an eerie quietness
The movie follows Julie, an up-and-coming tennis talent, as she navigates the complex emotions surrounding her relationship with her coach, who has suddenly been placed on non-active status after her previous prodigy's tragic suicide.The opening scene beautifully sets the tone, with Julie practicing against an invisible opponent without a ball—an early metaphor for the invisible, internal battle she's fighting. As soon as she receives a call informing her that her coach won't be there, you sense that something is off, and that feeling persists throughout the film.One of the film's greatest strengths is its respect for the audience's intelligence. It gives us the time and silence to process what might have happened and fill in the blanks on our own, rather than spoon-feeding us every detail from A to Z.
Her mobile phone becomes a kind of Trojan horse, introducing dread into even her safest spaces, like her own bedroom
This approach heightens the tension, which remains loose for most of the film, in sharp contrast to the scenes where Julie comes into contact with her previous coach. Although her parents create a safe environment and don't push her to open up, every time her phone is visible, it evokes a knot in the viewer's stomach.The movie skillfully keeps its audience in suspense. It doesn't immediately reveal the details of what transpired between Julie and her coach, but the weight of the mystery is felt in every scene.
We see her smile more, and it's genuinely heartwarming to witness her gradual emotional recovery
Julie's refusal to speak about what happened, despite clear signs of trauma, speaks volumes, and the film handles this silence with both tension and sensitivity.A beautiful arc emerges as the distance between Julie and her old coach grows. It's especially impressive how the lead actress, at such a young age, conveys Julie's internal struggle without needing to spell it out. The nuances in her performance make her journey feel authentic.As the movie progresses, it becomes clear that Julie Keeps Quiet isn't so much about what happened to her in the past, but rather about Julie slowly rediscovering herself after enduring trauma.