The trailer (below) has debuted for Leonardo Van Dijl‘s “Julie Keeps Quiet” ahead of its world premiere in Critics’ Week in Cannes. The film’s world sales agency New Europe Film Sales has revealed the first territory deals.
New Europe has sold the film to New Horizons for Poland, Kino Pavasaris for the Baltic states, and I Wonder Pictures for Italy. As previously announced, Jour2Fete has rights in France and Paradiso has Benelux rights.
The film centers on Julie, the star player at an elite tennis academy. Her life revolves around the game she loves. When her coach falls under investigation and is suddenly suspended, all of the club’s players are encouraged to speak up. But Julie decides to keep quiet.
Asked why he chose to center his film on a protagonist who is keeping quiet, rather than speaking out, the director responds: “I wanted to tell a story that offers Julie a path forward, capturing the gradual way in which she begins to reclaim her agency. Julie’s decision not to speak introduces a unique liberating and rebellious energy, forcing the film to move at her pace, not yielding to societal pressures.
Popular on Variety
“As the story unfolds, Julie emerges as a present-day hero, shedding light on the hidden pressures and injustices that are shaping our times. Like Antigone, Julie dares to say ‘No.’ In a world that urges her to speak, she keeps quiet, compelling the world to really listen.
“Silence can be violent, slowly eroding one’s sense of self. Yet, speaking out can be very harmful too. How do you decide, if you face this dilemma? When confronted with the destructive force of silence or the danger of speaking out, both choices carry the prospect of loss. Ultimately ‘Julie Keeps Quiet’ is really about the existential question, ‘To be or not to be?'”
The cast includes Tessa Van den Broeck as Julie, Laurent Caron as Jeremy, Claire Bodson as Sophie, and Koen De Bouw as Tom. The writers are Van Dijl and Ruth Becquart.
The film is produced by De Wereldvrede (Gilles De Schryver, Gilles Coulier, Wouter Sap, Roxanne Sarkozi), and co-produced by Les Films du Fleuve (Delphine Tomson, Luc Dardenne, Jean-Pierre Dardenne), Hobab (Nima Yousefi), and Film i Väst (Kristina Börjeson, Anthony Muir).
Van Dijl’s latest short film “Stephanie” (2020) was selected for the Official Competition of Cannes, San Sebastian and Toronto as well as over 150 other film festivals. “Julie Keeps Quiet” is his feature debut.
