This sophomore drama from veteran documentarian Nils Tavernier (Aurore) is the powerful story of a father who teams with his wheelchair-bound son to conquer the grueling gauntlet of an Ironman Triathlon.
Though seventeen-year-old Julien (Fabien Héraud) enjoys the unbridled affection of his mother, Claire (Alexandra Lamy), he has always felt distant from his father, Paul (Jacques Gamblin). A rugged outdoorsman and avid thrill-seeker, Paul bitterly resents the congenital palsy that confines his son to a wheelchair, and has often sought work far from home as a means of suppressing his frustrations. With the termination of his latest contract, however, the situation quickly comes to a head. Discovering an article about the Hoyts online, Julien challenges his father to jointly take part in an upcoming triathlon. At first, Paul brusquely rebuffs the suggestion. But when Julien makes an impassioned display of his determination, he is forced to reconsider. Together, father and son will train for the gauntlet that will galvanize their newly forged bond.
Shot on location at the 2012 edition of
Ironman France, the film captures thrilling
footage of pure athleticism amid the
breathtaking environs of the Côte d'Azur.
Tavernier also crafts a moving portrait of
paternal redemption, in which finishing is
not only a victory, but also a powerful testament
to a father's devotion.
Michèle Maheux