Suspendu (2015)

At dawn, in a great classical dance conservatory, a boy falls while rehearsing some movements. Something breaks in his foot, causing sharp pain. The exams are held today but the boy doesn't... See full summary »

Director:

Elie Grappe

Writer:

Elie Grappe

Stars:

Erwan Jeammot, Julia Petit, Max Ricat

Cast

Credited cast:
Erwan Jeammot
Julia Petit
Max Ricat
Anne Vadagnin

Storyline

At dawn, in a great classical dance conservatory, a boy falls while rehearsing some movements. Something breaks in his foot, causing sharp pain. The exams are held today but the boy doesn't give up: he tries to face his dance partner and classmates, convincing himself his body has no limits. Through Suspendu, I wanted to tell a story of transcendence. I had to go back into my personal experiences of classical dance and the Conservatory of Lyon where I practiced music intensively. The film's form is a sensory immersion, raw with minimal dialogue, seen from the point of view of a passionate young dancer struggling with his body. It also represents a fragment of adolescence: the bodies surrounding the character are both work tools shaped by dancing and strange objects of desire. His own body seems marked by an uncontrollable muscle growth; this is a wild and new development he tries to overcome. I wanted the casting process to go hand in hand with the writing process, almost like a ...

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Genres:

Short | Drama | Music | Sport

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Details

Country:

Switzerland France

Language:

French

Release Date:

December 2015 (USA)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

15 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Both a heartwrenching and joyful coming-of-age drama

Suspendu is a captivating coming-of-age drama that's more Darren Aronofsky than John Hughes, with hints of Black Swan as our teen protagonist faces his biggest fears. We can almost feel his pain every time he hits the hard floor. Told with minimal dialogue and gorgeously shot in cinema verité style, Suspendu brings us into a world not unlike our own - where hopes and dreams can be dashed in an instant, and small obstacles feel like life-changing failures. In a film like this the filmmakers can either look for actors who can dance or dancers who can act. This one was a no-brainer. Not only can these young people dance (and act), but they are actual students in leading conservatories who've performed to great accolades. Making the transition to the big screen was a natural for them, especially as they really are their characters. Max Ricat, an accomplished dancer and actor, puts his talents on display here to full effect, with a stunning performance that carries the film from opening to closing frame. He makes Suspendu both a heartwrenching and a joyful experience - no small task.