A French Youth vividly portrays the hurdles faced by two modern-day gladiators in Camargue races, juggling the pursuit of thrills with the metaphorical struggle for societal integration.
Jawad Bakloul and Belkacem Benhammou are two “raseteurs”: several times a week during the peak season, they take part in Camargue races where they dash into the arena to face bulls and try to snatch prized attributes fixed to their heads and horns. In A French Youth (original title: Une jeunesse française), director Jérémie Battaglia presents the portrait of two young Frenchmen from the south of France, descendants of Maghrebian immigrants, who have found a form of balance and a means of integration into society through this sport. The feature-length documentary celebrated its world premiere at Hot Docs 2024.
In terms of form, Jérémie Battaglia presents testimonies, facing the camera, from Jawad, Belkacem, and their relatives about their practice of Camargue racing and their lives in the south of France. These accounts are juxtaposed with scenes depicting the fights in the arena, the breeding of bulls in the Camargue, the festivities, and traditions accompanying the races. The director also captures moments of the spectators, whose comments help to better understand this ancestral tradition. What those who come to watch the races seek above all is the thrill of danger, the fierceness of the bull in the arena. Because it is indeed the bull that is honored in these Camargue races. “We are aware that it is the bull who is king. […] We are not here to triumph as men; we are here to show how we appreciate the bull and to highlight its best qualities,” Jawad confides.
Camargue racing is a dangerous sport. Athletes are frequently injured, some injuries leading to death, and their bodies suffer from repeated shocks and efforts. In this regard, as Belkacem emphasizes, “raseteurs” are modern-day gladiators. Yet, it is a poorly paid sport compared to others, and athletes often have to work another job to make ends meet.
Throughout the documentary, the protagonists open up about the difficulties they face as young adults and athletes of Maghrebian descent. They are frequently victims of employment discrimination and racism, including during the practice of their sport. They indeed encounter incomprehension regarding their love for this sport rooted in a culture that is not, according to some, their own. This incomprehension is also shared by their own families, who struggle to understand the interest they find in it. Yet, Jawad and Belkacem say that Camargue racing saved them from an uncertain future by offering them a purpose, a framework in which they can thrive and exist in the eyes of society. “I feel so good here, actually, in the south, attached to my traditions, to my sport. I don’t need anything else.”
While we lament the lack of direct cinema in form, A French Youth remains an interesting work in substance, by providing perspective on these modern-day gladiators, braving danger in the arena and constantly pushing their limits, alongside the difficulties experienced by a part of French youth in integrating into society.
A French Youth was produced by Amélie Lambert Bouchard and Elodie Pollet (Les Films Extérieur Jour), Valérie Dupin (Les productions du Lagon), Cyrille Perez and Gilles Perez (13Prods).
The 31st edition of Hot Docs – Canadian International Documentary Festival is taking place from April 25th to May 5th, 2024 in Toronto, Canada. Explore our coverage here.
