But Julie chooses to remain silent
Plot
Julie is a star at an elite tennis academy. When her coach is put under investigation and suddenly suspended, all the players at the club are encouraged to speak out. Belgium’s official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards in 2025. The film follows Julie, an aspiring tennis player, as she grapples with the complex emotions surrounding her relationship with her coach, who has been suddenly placed on hold following the tragic suicide of his previous prodigy.
One of the film’s greatest strengths is its respect for the audience’s intelligence
The opening scene sets the tone beautifully, as Julie practices with an invisible opponent without a ball—an early metaphor for the invisible, internal struggle she is waging. This visual motif suggests her isolation and inner turmoil, drawing the viewer in with an eerie silence. As soon as she gets the call that her coach will be gone, you sense that something is wrong, and that feeling persists throughout the film. It gives us time and silence to process what might have happened and fill in the gaps ourselves, rather than spoon-feeding us every detail from A to Z.
The film skillfully keeps viewers on the edge of their seats
This approach heightens the tension, which remains loose throughout most of the film, in stark contrast to the scenes where Julie comes into contact with her previous trainer. Her cell phone becomes a kind of Trojan horse, introducing fear into even her most secure spaces, like her own bedroom. Although her parents create a safe environment and don’t force her to open up, every time her phone is visible, it leaves a knot in the stomach. It doesn’t reveal the details of what happened between Julie and her trainer right away, but the weight of the secret is palpable in every scene.
The nuances in her performance make her journey feel authentic
Julie’s refusal to say what happened, despite the clear signs of trauma, speaks volumes, and the film handles this silence with both tension and sensitivity. A beautiful arc emerges as the distance between Julie and her old trainer grows. We see her smile, and watching her gradual emotional recovery is heartwarming. What’s particularly impressive is how the lead actress, at such a young age, conveys Julie’s internal struggle without having to explain it.
This shift in focus is both subtle and powerful, allowing the film to convey a deeper message about resilience and self-regeneration
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 slowly rediscovering herself in the wake of trauma.