Arenas

Q&A with Camille Perton on March 16

When his father is no longer able to provide for the family, ultra-talented 18-year-old Brahim (Ilies Kadri) faces new pressure to embark on a long-anticipated career as a professional soccer player. Frustrated that his longtime manager and friend Mehdi (Sofian Khammes) hasn’t managed to close a deal for a spot on his dream team, Brahim is intrigued by the services offered by shadowy power player Francis (Édgar Ramírez), whose promises of career advancement may prove all too costly. An immersive exploration into the shadier business dealings that animate the world of professional youth soccer, Camille Perton’s debut feature travels from Brahim’s native Lyon to the glittering waters of Nice and beyond, navigating thorny ethical dilemmas within the narrative framework of a nerve-racking thriller. The typically magnetic Ramírez looms large, delivering a masterful turn as a well-heeled but enigmatically sinister figure who may or may not have his client’s best interest at heart.