Jappeloup (2013)
Directed by Christian Duguay

Film Review

Jappeloup is a film that recounts the real-life experiences of the show jumping champion Pierre Durand and his Olympic gold winning horse Jappeloup de Luze, which had previously formed the basis of Karine Devilder's novel Crin noir.  It was scripted by Guillaume Canet, who also takes the lead role, horse riding being a subject that is very close to his heart.  It's curious that Canet chose not to direct the film himself - having shown himself to be a very capable director on such films as Ne le dis à personne (2006) and Les Petits Mouchoirs (2010).  Instead that responsibility was passed on to the Canadian filmmaker Christian Duguay, who has so far devoted the larger part of his career to television.

Jappeloup has some striking visuals but as a piece of drama it is something of a let down.  Despite a very strong cast - Canet is ably supported by Daniel Auteuil, Marina Hands and Tchéky Karyo - none of the performances rings true, and the culprit has to be Canet's plodding script which, whilst it is crafted with evident sincerity, lacks charm, depth and impact.  Duguay does what he can with the so-so script and draws on his experience as a cinematographer to make the film more a visual poem than a conventional drama.  Running to more than two hours, Jappeloup is a slog to sit through, particularly when there is so little drama (other than mere surface sentimentality) to engage our emotions, but some of the photography has that sublime heart-aching quality that makes it worth the effort, although only just.

Film Synopsis

Pierre Durand has high hopes of winning himself a gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, such is the confidence he has in his horse Jappeloup.  Show jumping is in Pierre's blood and has been since he first learned to ride horses in childhood.  At the start of the 1980s, he abandoned a potentially lucrative career as a lawyer so that he could devote himself to his favourite sport and become a professional show jumper.  In this Pierre was helped by his father, who gave him not only moral and financial support, but also the confidence to succeed in his sport.

Jappeloup was thought to be too small, too temperamental a horse to be championship material, but Pierre knew differently.  After months of dedicated training, the horse became a winner and Pierre's faith in him was soon rewarded.  But the 1984 Olympics proved to be a fiasco.  After this setback, Pierre would have been justified in parting company with Jappeloup and maybe even giving up his sport altogether.  But no, he isn't ready to quit yet.  With the Seoul Olympics four years away, Pierre knows he has enough time to get himself and his horse into shape and win that elusive gold medal...