CONTINUER/ KEEP GOING

Belgium, 2018, 84 minutes, Colour.

Virginie Efira, Kacey Mottet Klein.

Directed by Joachim Lafosse.

This is a brief Belgian film, focusing on a relationship between a mother and son.

The context is their travels in Kazikistan, an attempt by the mother to reach out to her older teenage son, having abandoned him earlier and his living with his father. He has had trouble sometimes, and has been accused of attacking a teacher.

The journey takes place in quite exotic settings for the audience to gaze at. And there are various communities in the desert, small villages, friendly tribes, raiders…

And the travel is on horseback.

The son is rather wilful in his treatment of his mother. She is frequently exasperated. While there are some moments when they do bond, there is continual uncertainty, even a dramatic climax and his pulling a gun on his mother.

There is no certain ending, leaving the film for the audience to gauge their response to each of the characters and how the conflict could be resolved.

1. The title, a journey, external travel, interior journey?
2. A built-in production, the cast, locations in Morocco, standing in for Kajikistan? The musical score? Songs, dancing?
3. The journey, the introduction, the desert locations, the horses, mother and son? The development of the relationship? The past, the young mother, abandoning the family, the role of the father, the son growing up, early adulthood, with his father, travel with his mother, choices?
4. The audience enjoying the travel, the range of locations, the various encounters, friendly families and hospitality, local raiders, the blacksmith and the ritual traditions with the horses, the village gathering in celebration?
5. The portrait of the mother, her age, her intentions, riding the horses, the relationship with her son, love, exasperation, the conversations, the silences, her concern, the target of his bitterness? At the various locations, the son with the people, the mother mediating? The moments of breakthrough, then the resentments? The finale in the village with the injured horse, working with the horse, the meal, the singing and dancing, the son, his anger, returning with the revolver? The confrontation? The continuing of the journey, some kind of reconciliation and understanding? A future?
6. The son, age, experience with his father, the father’s condemnation of his mother and her drinking, her absence, his behaviour, uncontrolled, attack on the teacher, going on the travels, listening to the music, ignoring his mother, angry with his mother, the comments, the reminiscences? His bad manners with people, on the travels? The horse, the village and its care for it, the celebration, his drinking, exasperation, returning with the revolver, the threats? Continuing the journey, some possible understanding and reconciliation?
7. Audiences identifying with the mother, with the son, understanding, empathy or not, hopes for reconciliation?