39/39
Julia is the star of an elite tennis academy. When her coach is under investigation and suddenly suspended, all the players at the club are called upon to speak out. But Julia chooses to remain silent. Belgium’s official submission for Best International Feature Film; 97th Academy Awards 2025. One name stands out in the credits of this film: Naomi Osaka as executive producer. The tennis player made no secret of the mental stress that comes with playing matches at the highest level. That’s what this film is about. It follows Julia, a promising teenage tennis player, as she deals with the aftermath of a scandal at her tennis club. She’s not directly involved in the events, but she can’t help it either. Although those around her urge her to talk about it, she refuses, insisting that she has nothing to say. Julia seems to be a rather reserved girl, even though she’s popular with her friends. It’s not easy for the viewer to identify with a character who doesn’t show her feelings. As a result, not much happens in the film. We see Julia working out, talking to her friends and parents, walking her dog, and going to school. On the surface, her life is not particularly eventful. The viewer has to explore what is going on beneath the surface. We get hints and see how she struggles, as do the people around her. But everything remains unsaid, as the title of the film makes clear. The audience at the Ghent Film Festival seemed disappointed, but not dismissive. “I was hoping something would happen in the end,” the girl on my right remarked, and he left it to us. environmental protection must be done with the utmost caution. I know that doesn’t sound impressive and probably won’t stimulate a lot of people. However, some filmmakers prefer silent “movies” to high-octane ones.