Shocking Teen Drama: Silent Amidst Coach Accusations!

Debuted last May at Cannes during Critics’ Week, where it won two awards (the Fondation Gan for Distribution and the SACD Award), the film “Julie Stays Silent” hits theaters today. This is the first feature film by Belgian director Leonardo van Dijl, who previously gained attention in 2020 with his short film “Stephanie,” which was selected in over 150 festivals worldwide. This drama addresses the topic of violence against women with subtlety and accuracy.

The film tells the story of Julie, a rising tennis star at a prestigious club, who dedicates her life to the sport. When her coach, who could have boosted her career, is suddenly suspended and an investigation is launched, all club players are urged to share their experiences. However, Julie decides to remain silent…

The Courage of Silence

For years now, the voices of victims of sexist and sexual violence have been becoming more prominent, especially in sports. Through the character of Julie, Leonardo van Dijl and his co-writer Ruth Becquart explore the process that precedes speaking out—the often-criticized silence that actually contains immense courage, highlighted in this film.

Choosing whether to speak out or remain silent is far from consequence-free. “Silence can be a violence that eats away at you and destroys your identity. At the same time, speaking out can also blow up in your face. What do you do in the face of this dilemma? Faced with the destructive force of unspoken truths or the dangers of public disclosure, you risk losing something either way,” the director points out.

“[Julie’s] decision to stay silent brings a unique energy, both liberating and rebellious, which forces the film to follow her pace, without her yielding to societal pressures. Throughout the story, Julie emerges as a contemporary heroine, shedding light on the invisible demands and injustices of our times. Like Antigone, Julie dares to say ‘no.’ In a world pushing her to speak, she remains silent, compelling those around her to really listen.”

While Julie opts for silence, it does not mean a lack of support from those around her, nor does it represent a complete lack of communication. Throughout the film, the presence of her close ones is indeed crucial in her development. As the influence of her coach had distanced her from other club members, she gradually learns to rebuild and rediscover herself through her connections with loved ones.

The role of Julie is brilliantly portrayed by the young Belgian actress Tessa Van den Broeck, in her debut cinema role.

“We Are All Julie”

Leonardo van Dijl also sees a universality in his heroine’s decision, allowing many to see themselves in her: “In writing this story, I realized that in many ways, we are all Julie. Everyone carries silences within themselves, things we’ve never confided to anyone or haven’t been able to articulate. Julie allows us to explore our silences, whether they are a defense mechanism, a form of resistance, a source of empowerment, or a violence.”

With this first feature film, he prompts reflection on the progress still needed, not just in sports, here in a tennis club, but more broadly. “By adopting [Julie’s] perspective, I hope to provoke constructive questioning about our laws and measures for prevention and awareness. A safer world for Julie is a safer world for us all, and it’s our collective responsibility to make that a reality.”

During filming, the director paid special attention to supporting the young actors, many of whom were non-professionals, by ensuring a safe environment for them. He explains having invited their families and friends, and made sure a third person (a professional actor, a member of the production team…) was present in the room during rehearsals so that the teenagers could turn to someone else if needed.

A beautiful message of support for victims who choose to remain silent, whether by choice or not, “Julie Stays Silent” is a must-watch in theaters starting today.