Les courageux

« Même en trichant, on peut pas gagner ». Les courageux, Jasmin Gordon’s first feature film, wears its heart on its sleeve when conveying its message. The film paints an uncompromising portrait of Jule, a delinquent single mother determined to give her three children the life she wants. We follow her tribulations as she is forced to reckon with her cruel lack of resources and a Swiss social system that couldn’t care less about her situation. As her burning desire to ease her burden grows more pressing and the temptation to lie and steal becomes stronger, Jule is inevitably crushed – not only by her own mistakes but also by her inability to ask for help.

At its core, the film is a poignant exploration of the protective role of lies. Caught like an animal in a trap by precarity and a troubled past, lies and empty promises become Jule’s weapon of choice. She lies to steal, lies to save face, lies to reassure her children. But with every lie, the faith they place in her diminishes, raising a pressing question: who is she really trying to protect?

While she may claim that each of her transgressions serves her children’s happiness, the film continually reveals the many ways in which they are hurt and endangered by their inability to rely on their mother. One of the most brutal examples comes at the beginning of the film when the three children, left to fend for themselves, decide to cross a busy highway on their way home – after their mother disappeared “for five minutes” to go shoplifting. With every misstep and every offense, the conclusion becomes increasingly clear: the only thing Jule might be protecting is her own ego.

In spite of the protagonist’s constant attempts at deception, the film shines through the sincerity of the interactions between its characters, particularly between Jule and her eldest daughter. Once Jule is cornered and realizes her lies carry no weight, she speaks to her child as an equal – another reminder that the latter had to grow up too soon.

The film’s psychological approach to sound design is another remarkable feature. This technique is most evident in moments of stress, when Jule and her eldest daughter let their minds wander, swallowed by the sound of the wind rustling through the forest’s leaves. This call for freedom contrasts sharply with the helplessness of their situation, serving as an effective way to foster empathy for the characters. However, the film's dialogue is somewhat lacking, with writing that at times feels a little phoned-in, as if reflecting a lack of confidence in the audience’s ability to grasp the characters’ psychology. Nonetheless, Les courageux stands out for its powerful blend of simplicity and brutality.