Carl Roberts 
“The Courageous (Les Courageux) is an outstanding and breathtaking drama, featuring a career-best performance from Ophélia Kolb.”
There are films that you don’t expect to hit you the way they do. You go in expecting one thing, only to come out feeling totally different. The Courageous (French: Les Courageux) is one of them. It is a stunning little drama that resonates deeply. A stunning cast led by Ophélia Kolb grips from the start and hooks you as the story unfolds. At its heart lies the story of a desperate mother who will do anything for her children. And could well be one of the best films of the year.
PREMISE
In a small town on the edge of wild country, an eccentric and delinquent mother has had enough of the rules. Crushed by her mistakes and by a society that doesn’t give a damn – or a second chance – to people like her, she’ll do anything to prove to her children, and to herself, that she still is a good person.
THOUGHTS
The film, at times, is incredibly bleak, but it also features some heartwarming sequences, as well as some great humour. With its tale of a single mother raising three children, one with a medical condition, and the uncompromising nastiness of some of the people around her, it can’t fail to hit us. The story twists and turns, and we are never really sure what we are seeing is real or imagined. A dense-looking woodland permeates throughout, leaving us to try to ascertain why we are seeing it so much. Is there a sinister reason why this image crops up so much? Is there some dark secret hidden or buried there? Where exactly is Jule’s (Ophélia Kolb) husband and the children’s father? The truth, when it arrives at the climax, leaves us feeling uncertain.
The lengths Jule goes to in her attempt to keep her head above water and to provide for her children will break the audience’s hearts. When we first meet her, Jule is driving her children to a supermarket to buy groceries. After dropping them off at the next-door cafe for a lemonade, Jule goes next door to the shop. We hear sirens in the background and watch their faces as she doesn’t return for her children.
Following a tense, nail-biting sequence that shows the three youngsters crossing a busy carriageway as they walk home, we are relieved when Jule returns later that night. Putting her children to bed, we watch as she curls up on her couch to go to sleep. The realisation of her circumstances begins to take hold of us. This is just the start of seeing Jule’s life and what she hides from her kids and puts herself through for them.
OPHELIA KOLB
As Jule, Ophélia Kolb is a revelation. This is the kind of performance that you cannot help but marvel at. The actress both convinces and breaks our hearts as the young struggling mother. She is doing her best for her children, hiding away the truth from them while slowly spiralling downwards in despair at her situation. Like any struggling lone parent in today’s world, she isn’t above stealing in order to feed her children.
Along the way, however, she makes the best life she can for them, even taking them to a lake in the woods so they and she can swim together. It is here that we discover a truth about her that we suspected but were never sure. This past infraction comes back into play later at her children’s school, where the head teacher (Michel Voïta) verbally abuses her about her past, leading to one of the film’s most satisfying moments.
Ophélia Kolb is compelling as Jule. We can see ourselves in her shoes from the very start, making us draw ever closer to her. This is the kind of acting performance that deserves recognition, that deserves to be honoured or, at least, nominated. We feel she genuinely cares for the three young actors portraying her children (Paul Besnier as Loïc, Arthur Devaux as Sami, and an incredible performance from Jasmine Kalisz Saurer as Claire). Added all together and we recieve a rounded, compelling, emotional, funny, fiercely human and heartbreaking performance from a superb actress who deserves every plaudit that comes her way.
DIRECTION AND WRITING
American/ Swiss filmmaker Jasmin Gordon directs the film in her debut feature. Just by the way she directs proceedings and draws such superb performances from all concerned, you would think she has been directing for much longer. In every sense of the word, what she has created and filmed here is nothing short of exquisite. The movie was shot in Lower Valais (between Martigny and Lake Geneva), and looks and feels breathtaking. The beauty of the surroundings shines through in such vibrance; it is beautiful to look at. We find ourselves marvelling at what we see on the screen. With the natural ability to be a storyteller and to direct her cast, Jasmin Gordon has already shown the world what a rare and unique talent she is.
Jasmin Gordon also supplies the story for the film, alongside screenwriter Julien Bouissoux. Bouissoux’s script captures the essence and tone of Jule to perfection. It explores the fragility of individual freedom in the face of societal norms and conventions. It does it in such a way that we cannot help but be affected by it. We find ourselves hoping throughout that Jule will find a solution to her problems, that there will be a way to ease the burden on her shoulders. The film’s ending is open to interpretation regarding whether she attains what she desires. However, we must not overlook the fact that women face this and other similar challenges daily. Julien Bouissoux’s screenplay expertly shows us this.
VERDICT
The Courageous (Les Courageux) is an outstanding and breathtaking drama, featuring a career-best performance from Ophélia Kolb. It is one of the most moving, original, heartbreaking and genuine films we will see this year. Thanks to some wonderfully fresh humour involved throughout, it can’t help but have us hooked. We genuinely care for this family, for what Jule is going through, even though we can’t help but chuckle a bit at how she resolves several problems. By the climax, we see a woman who has pushed back as far as she can go. The final sequence will have the audience laughing at how Jule tries to get herself out of a serious situation, one of her own making. However, this humour fades as we find ourselves watching an ending that offers hope but also the alternative. It is a heartbreaking final shot of the film.
This is why I prefer smaller, independent cinemas over their multiplex counterparts. By allowing a tale like this to capture our hearts, our minds and our emotions, it makes for a much more rewarding experience. And that’s what life is, an experience. Sometimes, it is a wonderful experience; other times, it can be a jarring, emotional slap in the face that we can’t see ourselves recovering from, no matter how hard we try. We find ourselves facing what we think are insurmountable problems. With films like this, we find ourselves outside looking in on people who may be facing the same problems we are. Yes, it is reality.
But sometimes, we must face it with courage and convictions that we don’t think we are capable of. That’s the great thing about this film. By allowing ourselves not to let things, people, or events rule us, we discover an inner strength that enables us to stand tall. By the climax, we don’t know whether to laugh or cry. But getting there is an absolute joy. The Courageous is just that. A courageous debut feature that stands tall. And a complete joy to behold.
The Courageous (Les Courageux) opens in cinemas on September 5th, courtesy of Metfilm Distribution.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
