'Jappeloup' Review: Slow in parts, but the realistic performances by Guillaume Canet, Daniel Auteuil sustain viewers' interest

New Delhi:

Director: Christian Duguay

Cast: Guillaume Canet, Marina Hands, Daniel Auteuil, Lou de Laage, Tcheky Karyo

'Jappeloup' is a story of a clumsy and unruly horse that grows up to be an Olympic champion just like its rider Pierre Durand.

Pierre, the French show jumping champion at the 1988 Olympics, is played by Guillaume Canet, whose interest in show jumping tournaments is supported by his loving father Serge Durand played by Daniel Auteuil. The film also deals with the father-son relationship on the side. Pierre, who gives up show jumping to be a lawyer, quits his job when his father buys Jappeloup and wants him to train the unusual beast who refuses to be tamed.

After much hard work, the rider and his horse start making progress and later go on to win tournaments in France and Europe. The great twist comes when Jappeloup throws Pierre down during the 1984 Olympics, resulting in Pierre questioning his own skills. The film also sees a promising performance by Lou de Laâge as Raphaëlle Dalio, the original owner of the horse, who comes to work for Pierre when he buys it.

The Quebecois director Christian Duguay has dealt wonderfully with the sub-plots of the story. The viewer is hardly disoriented with the story line even as it alternates from that of the horse to that of its rider Pierre. Cinematography is the other area the film scores in. Ronald Plante has captured the equestrian stunts with a profoundness that makes you one with the rider. The music of the film by Clinton Shorter is basic and at times motivational. The film tells a sport's story with a humanistic angle helped with great dialogues written by the lead star Guillaume Canet.

The film is made much more interesting when after his fall Pierre is forced to make some hard decisions about his career, family and also has to deal with his father's death. For a moment, you really do believe that there could be a sad ending to it. The story is told like an epic, and does seem a little long at places, but the end is well crafted.

Rating: 3/5

The film was recently shown at the ongoing 20th European Film Festival in New Delhi

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