RIDM 2024: Your Higher Self (dir. Annie St-Pierre) | Review
With a distinct cinematic style, Annie St-Pierre invites us to thoughtfully consider, without passing judgment, why so many people are turning to coaching in today’s world.
“I’m not afraid of coaches; they are there to meet a societal need. What scares me, however, is what creates this need,” declared Annie St-Pierre following the presentation of her feature-length documentary Your Higher Self (original title: Le Plein potentiel), which celebrated its world premiere at the 2024 Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM). With her latest, the director offers a subtle portrait of modern societies through the lens of coaching.
The film presents a series of different coaching scenes captured in direct cinema style, set in various contexts with diverse protagonists. Among the scenes are a dip in the icy waters of a Quebec lake, an introduction to horseback riding, and a foray into sexual dominance. The realms of coaching are vast and appeal to a wide and diverse audience, crossing genders and ages. To create a seamless flow and a cohesive narrative, the director employs a meditative, sometimes unsettling, almost threatening musical theme, alongside a visual and stylistic consistency marked by gentle camera movements that invite the viewer to meditate and introspect.
From a technical standpoint, the film demonstrates particular mastery and a distinctive style. The filming technique skillfully complements the coaching theme and the protagonists’ dialogues. Annie St-Pierre plays with various shots: often starting with a close-up on a subject, she gradually widens the field to give the viewer an overall perspective of the scene, while creating an astonishing continuity between the various sequences of the film. This technique mirrors the experience of a coaching client who, guided by their coach, becomes aware of their capabilities and strengths, expanding their scope of action.
The director’s goal was to stimulate viewers’ perceptions while allowing them the freedom to form their own interpretations of what they see. Annie St-Pierre strives to pass no judgment on the subjects she filmed, who allowed her presence in very intimate scenes reflecting their spirituality. However, during the packed premiere at RIDM, laughter broke out at unexpected moments. This laughter, sometimes mocking, highlights the audience’s discomfort with this controversial and divisive theme.
Beyond the pitfalls of coaching and the commodification of well-being, Your Higher Self prompts us to question why individuals turn to life coaches. Our modern societies, plagued by individualism and ultra-liberalism, are built on performance. We are compelled to succeed individually and to rise in society by becoming ever more productive and efficient, constantly showcasing the best version of ourselves. Those who lack the courage to join this race to the top often feel a profound sense of personal failure. The dialogue between Rose, an opera singer at Montreal’s Maison Symphonique, and her coach is enlightening on this point. Rose struggles with a section of the requiem she is preparing because it makes her feel she lacks courage. Her coach then asks, “What does it feel like to lack courage?” “I find it embarrassing. I’m afraid of not being inspiring.”
The 27th RIDM is taking over Montreal, Canada, from November 20th to December 1st.
