SNOWFALL // A FILM REVIEW OF "SLALOM"
The dream of being the best, the very best, is something that we can all relate to. Lyz's (Noée Abita) dream is to be the best on the ski slopes. When she's on the mountains, flying through the air, no one can stop her. Her destiny is in her hands. At 15-years-old, she's got her dreams all in her grasp. She becomes her Coach Fred's favorite, after her winning streak seams unbeatable. He begins to mold her into a winner, his winner (Fred is played by Jérémie Renier). As she begins to win, their relationship grows closer, eventually leading to sexual abuse by the one person she puts all of her trust in. In his mind, Lyz is a perfect mark for his abuse: her father is gone and her mother is too busy to pay attention to her. So she falls under his spell and his abuse continues, gnawing away at her mental and physical health.
Director and co-writer writer Charlène Favier crafts SLALOM in a delicate and sensitive way, keeping us with Lyz's experience and never letting the audience feel anything but disgust in the way that Coach Fred abuses her. Showcasing the very real danger of sexual abuse in sports is a dire and much needed issue to be spoken about and Favier unfolds it masterfully here. Lyz is slowly chipped away bit by bit by her coach, lured in by his comfort and tough love until she absolutely trusts everything about him. So when he begins his abuse, even though it doesn't quite feel right to her, she convinces herself to trust it, and to trust him. It's terrifying watching the uneven power dynamics at play, with a literal child being abused instead of being taken care of.
The skiing scenes are exhilarating, shot with an authenticity that is elevated by Favier's own past history in the sport. They are thrilling to watch and when they're over you suddenly get a lump in your stomach all over again as Lyz walks back to her coach. Noée Abita is powerful in the role of the young skier, showcasing an unflinching portrayal of a young girl taken advantage of in the midst of pursuing her dream. She's quite remarkable and brings a truth and warmth to the role. Jérémie Renier smartly plays Fred as a seemingly level-headed coach who seems to have all the best intentions - until he doesn't. It's important to know that predators don't seem like predators and he certainly thinks that what he does is the right thing. The film goes down a dark path but ultimately shines hope into Lyz's life. Her experience is a painful one, one that no one should ever have to go through. But so many just like her do every day, and the Coach Fred's of the world exist too, filled with an unnerving patience in their grooming. SLALOM is a beautiful, lyrical and important film, one that's also an important story of reclaiming your own life back and knowing that you are not alone.
GRADE: A
WRITTEN BY Charlène Favier, Antonine Lacomblez, Marie Talon DIRECTED BY Charlène Favier STARRING Noée Abita, Jérémie Renier, Marie Denarnaud, Muriel Combeau, Marïra Schmitt, Axel Auriant. OPENING APRIL 7TH ON DIGITAL CINEMAS VIA KINO MARQUEE. FOR MORE INFO: SLALOM