According to the maker, Des épaules solides is the story of a trap. In practically all branches of sport, men and women are absolutely separated and women's achievements continue to be a little below those of their male colleagues. Nevertheless, female athletes continue to measure themselves by the achievements of the men. Because the world of top sport is primarily populated by adolescents who are just coming to terms with their own sexual identity, Ursula Meier became fascinated by the male-female issue in sport. Based on the story of Sabine, who refuses to make a distinction between the sexes, Ursula tackles this issue. The teenager Sabine has one aim in life: to be a top athlete. That is why she goes to a special boarding school, where she is taught by a certain Gelewski. His demanding training methods are the subject of constant criticism by the adolescent. Yet Sabine wants to improve her performance, whatever the cost. She goes to great lengths. So far that she wants to compete with the achievements of the other sex. Sabine wants absolute power over her body, as if over a machine, and is willing to adopt unconventional methods to achieve this, such as a hidden camera. In doing so, she only alienates herself from her surroundings. A body is not a machine; it has its own mysteries and weaknesses and can give up the ghost at any moment.
- Director
- Ursula Meier
- Countries of production
- Switzerland, France, Belgium
- Year
- 2002
- Festival Edition
- IFFR 2004
- Length
- 96'
- Medium
- 35mm
- International title
- Strong Shoulders
- Language
- French
- Producers
- PCT Cinéma - Télévision, Pierre-André Thiébaud, Need Productions, GMT Productions
- Sales
- Roissy Films
- Screenplay
- Frédéric Videau, Ursula Meier
- Cinematography
- Nicolas Guicheteau
- Cast
- Jean-François Stévenin