Emma Benestan’s film “Animale” transports viewers to the evocative marshlands of southern France’s Camargue region. Set amongst the ponds and herds of free-roaming bulls that roam this landscape, the film introduces Nejma, a young woman striving to find her place in the traditionally male-dominated world of bull ranching and racing.
Played compellingly by Oulaya Amamra, Nejma dreams of following in the footsteps of the local men known as “gardians,” who raise the bulls and take part in adrenaline-fueled competitions. Though her mother and others are cautious of the dangers, Nejma is determined to prove herself alongside her rough-and-tumble peers.
Benestan achieves striking scenes that immerse us in the rituals and personalities of this toro-centric community. Yet concerns linger that familiar narrative beats and an overt metaphor, though executed skillfully, may leave some viewers feeling the film loses opportunities for greater subtlety.
While Nejma’s journey and the milieu are vividly drawn, predictions are that the story falls back on predictable storytelling rather than exploring its bold concepts in truly surprising ways. However, there is still much to appreciate in Benestan’s visual achievements and Amamra’s captivating lead performance in this hybrid mystery/horror that transports audiences to the evocative landscapes and customs of Camargue life.
Setting the Scene
The evocative wetlands of Camargue introduce us to a world shaped by bulls. Wide marshes and ponds are home to manades—herds of free-roaming black bulls that have grazed these lands for generations. The gardians who raise the bulls live amongst them, guiding their movements across the landscape. These local people also take part in daring competitions where raseteurs test their nerves against the bulls in arena races.
With only their quick footwork, runners must feint and touch a bull’s forehead, evading hook-like horns and thousand-pound frames charging at their backs. It’s a spectacle that demands immense skill, is celebrated in villages, and is also a source of income through tourism. For the gardians, engagement with the bulls is a full-time lifestyle, immersed in the rituals of manade culture.
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Director Emma Benestan captures the rural beauty of Camargue and the impressive muscular physiques of its bulls. Through the details of ranching, we gain respect for grooming and herding practices entrusted to gardians.
While races present risks to humans and animals, Benestan depicts an appreciation for bulls that’s unlike the matador traditions of Spain. Her film acknowledges an artistic tradition of painting Camargue landscapes and bulls and seems to similarly aim to portray daily life with a reverence for its toro-centric customs and terrain.
Meeting Nejma
At the ranch, we encounter our heroine, Nejma. Only 22 but striving for independence, she dreams of joining the local men in handling the bulls. Though her mother worries for her safety in this dangerous line of work, Nejma has skills and passion that can’t be kept away from the arena forever.
Led by the steady Léonard, the ranch community treats Nejma with fond respect, despite the banter. They’ve observed her natural talents with the animals and don’t doubt her grit. Still, bull racing carries risks no woman from these parts has faced. When Nejma insists on training, Léonard ensures she masters techniques before racing live bulls.
Her debut comes. Entering the ring alone with hoofs, thunder, and horns poised, Nejma’s composure shines through. With precise footwork and calm focus, she successfully feints and touches her opponent. Cheers erupt from all watching, pride swelling in her supporters. Nejma feels a sense of belonging. Though her mother’s fears don’t fully cease, this day she proves herself to be more than a hopeful trainee—a true gardien has emerged.
Through Nejma’s story, we glimpse sexist barriers falling in traditional communities. Her success inspires others, men and women, to recognize unseen potential in their own midst.
A Strange Metamorphosis
The night that was meant to celebrate Nejma’s debut takes a strange turn. After drinking with friends, she wakes up alone, missing time, and with an illness creeping over her. Back at the ranch, gruesome finds are made—animal organs placed with intention and people bearing injuries, not accidents.
As more die mysteriously, Nejma senses changes within herself. Her connection to the bulls grows stronger each day; their thoughts are nearly her own. An aching forms in her bones, and her body shifts in ways unseen. Has some curse befallen her, or are there darker forces at play?
Director Benestan taps into folklore of women transforming into beasts, perhaps symbolizing Nejma absorbing traits long told as uniquely male. The metaphor could comment on women stepping into the domains of men, facing backlash both institutional and mystical. Yet the supernatural elements feel at odds with the film’s otherwise naturalistic tone.
While subtlety isn’t the film’s strength, Amamra shines in portraying an unraveling sense of self. Her desperate search for answers alone maintains intrigue, even as flaws in logic and payoff disappoint. Though the “real subject” stays obscure, Nejma’s journey reflects women redefining their place, despite resistance both seen and unseen.
Capturing the Camargue
Animale brings the cultural landscape of Camargue to life. Director Benestan treats us to the natural beauty of the region, from marshy wetlands to the powerful black bulls that roam. It’s a setting ripe for exploration, and the costumes and colors burst from the screen.
Cinematographer Impens ensures every image dazzles. His camera swoops and soars, pulling us deep into the action during races. He finds beauty in mundane tasks too, like the gardians handling their beasts. Through Impens’ lens, the rituals and routines of manade life feel rich in detail.
Not to be outdone, Fabienne Menguy’s costumes shine as their own characters. In rainbows of shirts and fabrics, she dresses each player perfectly for place and personality. It’s easy to see why these visuals caught the eye at Cannes.
Leading the way is Oulaya Amamra, commanding attention from her first scene. Fierce and flawed, she incarnates Nejma with grit and nuance. Even as the plot veers off course, Amamra anchors us with her complex, captivating performance.
Together, Benestan’s skilled collaborators breathe Southern French folklore to life. For all its narrative flaws, Animale offers an immersive sensual experience that merits appreciation.
Faltering Storytelling
While Animale creates an immersive setting, its narrative falls short. The premise of a woman breaking barriers sadly offers little surprise. From Nejma’s initiation into the world of bull-wrangling, story beats play out as expected all the way to the end.
Other films handle similar themes with more finesse. Rodeo, for example, presents a woman carving space in a male sport with realistic humanity, not supernatural means. The director clearly aimed to comment on gender roles, but symbolic transformations obscured subtleties that could resonate.
Adding mystery might excite genre fans, but floating a Minotaur myth feels tacked-on. Scenes teasing Nejma’s shifting identity intrigue, yet the payoff disappoints. Logic-bending, loose threads undermine the supernatural’s effectiveness. What starts as an intriguing device becomes a confusing distraction.
While passion for Camargue culture and Amamra’s leading performance merit praise, ultimately sluggish pacing and anemic plot hold Animale back. Strong foundations in setting and performance inadequately support the awobbly narrative structure. With refinement, this story could enlighten, but it proves too predictable to fully engage. The director displays clear talents, yet this project might have benefited from a tighter focus on naturalistic themes over symbolic spectacles.
Camargue Spirit, Questionable Story
While Animale captures the rugged soul of the Camargue impressively, its narrative falters from familiarity. Director Benestan clearly strived to tell a symbolic tale but missed marks on subtlety and logic. It’s a shame that visually sumptuous landscapes and customs couldn’t strengthen a script playing strictly by genre.
Still, passion for the folkways of the region and Amamra’s standout lead affirm Benestan’s abilities. With refinement, stronger premises could channel regional authenticity into fresher feminist themes. For now, genre buffs may find novelty, though limitations hamper broader acclaim.
In the end, Animale remains an ambitious, competent production hindered by an overused story. With experience, this director shows signs of crafting resonant films that celebrate culture on its own terms. For now, Animale’s spirit lies in its earnest homage to Camargue rituals, even if narrative metamorphosis leaves something to be desired.
The Review
Animale
While Animale's gritty atmosphere and artistic flourishes keep interest, narrative deficiencies undermine its impact. Benestan demonstrates a passion for regional folkways, but the screenplay's predictable beats and muddled metaphysics dilute an otherwise engrossing homage. With refinements to storytelling craft, this director shows promise in championing culture through cinema.
PROS
- Authentic portrayal of Camargue customs and landscapes
- A compelling lead performance by Oulaya Amamra
- Artful cinematography and production values
- A fresh perspective on gender dynamics in masculine traditions
CONS
- Predictable, overdone narrative beats
- Supernatural elements are not fully realized.
- Logic issues undermine metaphorical elements.
- Pacing drags despite production strengths.
