Cinephile, our proofreader Christine Dutertre, long-time director of Mézeray, delivers a scathing critique of the film “LADS”, a new caricature of the world of racing, as part of the Premier Plan festival
As part of the Premiers Plans Film Festival which is taking place this week in Angers – 37th edition of this wonderful cinema festival, a meeting between emerging talents, young directors and enthusiasts – we attended the preview of the film ” Lads” (national release at the beginning of April) by young director Julien Menanteau. On paper, it was very tempting. As they say in the jargon: race to forget!…
This film is the story of a young man, Ethan, 17, who becomes an apprentice jockey in an obstacle stable. Quite convincing in this role, Marco Lurashi aptly embraces the situation of a young enthusiast having to confront the demanding daily life of the profession. The first 30 minutes reward us with very accurate and well-filmed images and shots within a racing stable. The spectator discovers or rediscovers the familiar gestures around the horse: life in the yard, grooming, food, going to the races… It’s cool, we feel confident, everything looks good!…
And there, the journey becomes complicated: re-girth and adjust the reins it will shake!
-We find ourselves in a gloomy PMU bar where Ethan’s father, an inveterate gambler, is beaten in the face by his creditors; we talk about jockeys who “go around” to hit the jackpot at the next race; we take a detour through a slaughterhouse where a few horses are waiting for the final moment, with a small stop in front of the carcasses which stand like vigilantes; we witness the unbearable gesture of Ethan who during the race will cause a competing jockey to fall, who will remain paralyzed; and for the little touch of animal comfort and well-being, let’s not forget the insertion of an obstacle course from the 1950s where the horses fall in all directions and very badly; and a little geo-politics while we’re at it: the alleged power of the Qataris who would do and undo everything as they please.
Do you want some more? Come on, for the road: doping. We had to talk about it anyway! And it is the last scene of the film, violent, moving, of a horse doped by its trainer to save the stable.
So, what can we say after seeing this film that is so distressing, so sad, so unfair for our racing planet? The players in our sector will be able to unravel this knot of confusion, extract the positive, and put these clichés into perspective. This is certainly good, but it will not contribute to definitively changing the way the outside world views racing. Damage ! We believed it…
