Emerging French Boxing Sensation Samuel Kircher Takes Center Stage

Boxing films are plentiful, especially since the advent of sound in cinema. This genre provides immediate satisfaction because there’s something undeniably thrilling about watching two fighters battle on screen.

Crafting something unique within this genre is challenging, making Belgian writer-director Valéry Carnoy’s debut feature, Wild Foxes (La Danse des renards), worthy of recognition for standing out from conventional brawling films.

The story unfolds in a distinctive setting: a prestigious French sports-études boarding school, where young athletes train throughout high school. This environment weighs heavily on the aspiring boxers, pushing them to desperate acts as they strive for professional success.

Wild Foxes introduces a compelling twist to the standard coming-of-age sports narrative. The 17-year-old protagonist, Camille, portrayed with deep emotion by Samuel Kircher, is poised to represent France at the Olympics. However, an unexpected injury leads him to reconsider the violent nature of his sport and contemplate whether there’s more to life than following in the footsteps of boxing legend Marcel Cerdan.

Camille’s transition from a respected fighter to an outcast is central to the film, which examines the violence he perpetrates in the ring and the bullying he faces from peers, including his closest friend and training partner, Matteo.

As Camille and Matteo engage in training and carefree escapades, including feeding stray foxes in the nearby woods, a fall from a cliff leaves Camille injured but profoundly shaken. Despite his miraculous escape, he struggles with phantom pain and anxiety, while also exploring a budding relationship with Yas, a taekwondo enthusiast who has a passion for classical music.

The film expertly maintains tension, weaving violence with moments of reflection, allowing the audience to witness Camille grapple with his identity as a boxer and his place in a competitive environment. The concluding combat is less about winning and losing and more about the moral complexities that define his journey.