This all-too-credible drama peers beneath the mentor relationship between an athlete and their coach to reveal something darker and troubling.
15-year-old Lyz is the rising star of the French skiing scene. She will likely make the national Olympics team. And her passion to win is matched by the dedication of her coach. His inspiration and drive sees the teenager develop a crush on him. But Fred stays focused on her performance, pushing her to succeed. However, when she does start winning, Fred’s attitude changes and the boundary between teacher and pupil, adult and child, becomes irrelevant to him. Charlène Favier’s confident directorial debut is forthright in detailing the cold calculation of Fred’s behaviour as he grooms Lyz. Driven by the impressive performances of newcomer Noée Abita (who was 20 at the time of filming) and Jérémie Renier, this is an unsettling and damning portrait of abuse
