48/12
But Julie chooses to keep quiet
Chronology
Julie is a star player at an elite tennis academy. When her coach is investigated and suddenly suspended, all the players at the club are encouraged to speak out. The film follows Julie, an emerging tennis talent, as she navigates the complex emotions surrounding her relationship with her coach, who has suddenly been sidelined following the tragic suicide of her former prodigy. The opening scene sets the tone beautifully, with Julie training against an invisible opponent without a ball, an early metaphor for the invisible internal battle she is fighting.
One of the film’s greatest strengths is its respect for the audience’s intelligence
This visual motif hints at her isolation and inner turmoil, drawing the viewer in with an eerie stillness. As soon as she receives a call informing her that her coach won’t be there, you sense that something is wrong, and this feeling persists throughout the film. It gives us time and silence to process what might have happened and fill in the blanks ourselves, rather than spoon-feeding us every detail from A to Z. This approach increases the tension, which remains weak for most of the film, in stark contrast to the scenes where Julie comes into contact with her former coach.
The film skillfully keeps its audience in suspense
Her cell phone becomes a Trojan horse of sorts, introducing terror even into her safest spaces, like her bedroom. Although her parents create a safe environment and don’t pressure her to open up, every time her phone is visible, it evokes a knot in the viewer’s stomach. It doesn’t immediately reveal the details of what happened between Julie and her coach, but the weight of the mystery is felt in every scene. Julie’s refusal to talk about what happened, despite the clear signs of trauma, speaks volumes, and the film handles this silence with tension and sensitivity.
The nuances in her performance make her journey authentic
A beautiful narrative arc emerges as the distance between Julie and her old coach grows. We see her smile more and it is genuinely touching to watch her gradual emotional recovery. It’s particularly impressive how the lead actress, at such a young age, conveys Julie’s internal struggle without having to explain it. As the film progresses, it becomes clear that Julie Keeps Quiet is less about what happened to her in the past and more about Julie’s slow rediscovery of herself after enduring trauma.
