Julie Keeps Quiet is a film of abuse that doesn't show it or give any detail about it. Instead Julie Keeps Quiet is a quiet film, of secrets unspoken and characters suffering in silence. The titular character seems to be under internal, personal pressure, unsure of what to do and stumbling through her life. Occasionally she cries out and succumbs to stress, but not for reasons understandable to an external viewer. This is very much a film that depicts inner struggle without giving us context. We become sympathisers without being forced by sentimentality or explicit imagery. We just witness the consequences, as life goes on. The film has a Dardenne social realist style, executed simply and effectively. Julie Keeps Quiet is the sort of European drama that may seem cliché and uninspired, but it's all done very well and is clearly a thoughtful work.

2025 Ranked

classic Dardenne-esque full frontal protagonist social realism, and no wonder the brothers produced this one alongside Florian Zeller and Naomi Osaka. the clever and efficient use of the score lifts the otherwise clean cut, surpriseless metoo drama up a level.

Rarement vu une approche aussi rigoureuse et sensible du silence et de la honte des victimes d’abus. Superbe, en sachant refuser la tentation du « film choc » pour lui préférer la voie bien plus ardue de la douceur.

Said so much with so very little

I watched this movie with only french subtitles so I might’ve missed a few things. A lot of the reviews are mocking how Julie really does stay quiet and that’s exactly why I’m sitting here with tears in my eyes. Abuse, assault whatever the case is often kept in silence especially as women, we’re taught to tolerate pain and we are realistically tougher (sorry) because it’s all we know to do. This hit close to home in a way because I too struggle to cry and speak in the moments when it’s most crucial, the truth being so painful you’d rather not speak it into existence. Love how the audience never finds out what the coach exactly did, very well done in my opinion. Sorry for the overshare but seeing people say they slept through it got me riled up❤️

les silences assourdissants 💔

Why is it that I find the most peaceful sleep at Cannes Film Festival screenings?

Very soft film about sexual abuse in sport, which is interesting and good in my opinion, precisely because of how soft and anti-spectacular it is, following the everyday life of a young girl as her coach is suspected of sexual abuse on another girl who killed herself. You guess that she has been a victim of something too, but she keeps quiet. And you follow her going to school, training, meeting friends... It's amazing that the film decided to make the spectator dive into the after. We cannot say we dive into Julie's mind because you never know what happened to her and why she keeps quiet, but you're like a neutral observator trying to understand that and empathizing with her. It's very slow and not a lot is happening, but I was totally emotionnally involved into this at some point, and stayed after the end of credits. A very good representation of this subject, very touching film.

big year for tennis movies