Leonardo Van Dijl makes his feature-length debut with Julie Keeps Quiet (Julie Zwijgt). The director co-wrote the screenplay with Ruth Becquart, a popular actor also making her debut as a screenwriter. Professional tennis player Naomi Osaka produces the drama, her first narrative film as an executive producer. Tessa Van den Broeck plays the lead role in her first film. So, there are a lot of rising and new voices on tap, but does that translate to the talent being seen and felt on screen?
Tessa Van den Broeck is the titular Julie, the star player of a Belgian youth tennis academy. She rarely hangs out with the other players. It is not because she doesn’t like them, or they don’t like her; in fact, everyone seems to be chummy. Julie’s tunnel vision means she focuses on her schoolwork and improving her game, and nothing else. The tennis world erupts in controversy when a player accuses Coach Jeremy (Laurent Caron) of some heinous actions. To help everyone deal with what is happening, the tennis club heads bring in an independent mediator to talk to each player and understand their relationship with Jeremy. But Julie keeps quiet, as she deeply respects her coach and knows he pushed her so hard so she can be the best tennis player she can be. But the scrutiny of the accusation, which no adult will explicitly explain, and the scrutiny of Julie’s closeness to him begin to weigh on her and affect her game and grades.
Julie has a quiet conversation outside in a tense moment from Julie Keeps Quiet.
“…the tennis club heads bring in an independent mediator to talk to each player and understand their relationship with Jeremy. But Julie keeps quiet.”
Julie Keeps Quiet is as perfect a drama as one can hope for. The cinematography, courtesy of Nicolas Karakatsanis, looks natural yet stylized. The almost-silhouettes of Julie and her puppy at dusk perfectly evoke the somber yet hopeful attitude of the main character. Caroline Shaw’s score is immaculate, used to underscore the intense feelings of the teenage protagonist when words fail. It is all gripping stuff, though not nearly as strong as the screenplay’s realistic dialogue. When Julie asks her new coach, Backie (Pierre Gervais), to keep training with her, it is both a little sad and very heartwarming.
However, none of that is as great as the acting. Tessa Van den Broeck exquisitely navigates the tightrope of typical teenage angst thrown into an unthinkable situation. She’s vulnerable yet determined, and there’s no question that her decision not to speak up is personal to her. The other teen tennis players are also quite good and come across as authentic and caring. Caron really only has one big scene, but Jeremy’s desperation comes into full view during it. Gervais is compassionate, drilling home what it truly takes to be a great coach. There’s not a bad performance to be found, no matter how big or small the part.
Julie Keeps Quiet is a gripping drama from start to finish. The technical skills on display are second to none, while the talent in front of the camera is pure bliss. This is especially true of Tessa Van den Broeck, who stuns in her first film in a very challenging role. Make no mistake, this is one of the best films of the year.
"…one of the best films of the year."
