A powerful new documentary lays bare the dual struggles of North African bullfighters in the south of France, where they confront both mortal danger in the arena and pervasive racial prejudice from the crowds.
The Ancient Tradition of Camargue Bullfighting
In the region of Camargue, a unique and centuries-old form of bullfighting persists. Unlike the more lethal Spanish corrida, the French version features raseteurs – athletes who attempt to snatch ribbons attached to a bull's horns. Each ribbon carries a cash prize, sometimes worth thousands of euros, making the high-risk pursuit a potential route out of poverty for some.
Filmmaker Jérémie Battaglia turns his lens on this world in his captivating documentary, A French Youth. The film focuses on two young men of North African descent, Jawad Bakloul and Belkacem Benhammou, who are deeply immersed in this traditional French practice.
Confronting Danger and Prejudice
For Bakloul and Benhammou, the challenges are twofold. First, there is the ever-present physical threat. Battaglia's camera captures nerve-shredding sequences of the races, where a split-second misjudgement can be catastrophic. In one harrowing moment, Benhammou is struck by a bull, suffering a brutal muscle tear. After each match, their pristine white uniforms are stained with dust and blood, stark evidence of the ordeal.
Perhaps more insidious is the second battle: against systemic racism. Despite upholding a piece of cherished local culture, the two men face racial abuse from sections of the older, predominantly white audience. The film juxtaposes their skill and courage with the casual bigotry they endure. In one particularly disturbing scene, spectators complain of boredom when a bull is too docile, displaying a chilling indifference to the athletes' peril.
A Mirage of Valour and Acceptance
The documentary suggests that for these raseteurs, the pursuit is about more than money or sport. They appear to be chasing a mirage of valour and social acceptance through their dangerous performances. Yet, this acceptance remains elusive both inside and outside the arena.
The film reveals that despite being highly educated, some of the men struggle to find stable employment, blocked by the same prejudices they face in the bullring. A French Youth thus becomes a poignant exploration of integration, arguing that it is rarely a two-way process. The burden of assimilation falls disproportionately on the shoulders of the marginalised.
Battaglia's work is more than a tribute to the extraordinary talent and bravery of these athletes. It is a stark, elegant portrait of a multicultural France grappling with its contradictions. A French Youth will be available to watch on True Story from 2 January.
