Lads

The initiation of 17-year-old Ethan, who has a troubled past and an introverted personality, into the world of lads—apprentice jockeys trying to complete their training, knowing that only one percent will succeed. Julien Menanteau captures a world he has known since childhood, which is rarely depicted in Francophone cinema, particularly the discipline of Ethan, the toughest and most violent. The race scenes, shot with onboard cameras and resembling documentary style, give the film a cinéma vérité label. Jeanne Balibar delivers a chilling performance in a role that highlights the harshness of the equestrian world, while Marco Luraschi shines in both dramatic moments and his galloping scenes (awarded Best Actor at the Angoulême Festival).