Welcome to the world of Camargue, the tradition of French bullfighting. In A French Youth, director JÉRÉMIE BATTAGLIA explores the journeys of Jawad and Belka, North African immigrants risking their lives for fame and (small) fortune in the ring.

In the French region of Provence, where the documentary is set, bullfighting is a popular pastime. Camargue requires competitors to steal a ribbon from an angry bull and somehow flee without being trampled. Injuries are common – there are plenty of shots of bloody behinds and injured athletes that prove that. But injury is not the worst thing that can happen to these young fighters; death is always waiting in the wings for these athletes who are brave or foolish. When your co-worker is an angry animal, you’re never truly safe!

While the sport’s risks are weighty, Camargue also offers rewards:  “They look at you like a football star,” Jawad tells us, as he walks to the stadium. But though he has the talent to be a star, injuries and anti-arab racism create obstacles. Add to that the fact that this risky sport doesn’t pay well (around 600 Euros a week), and it all adds up to a dream few people understand – especially the players’ families.

With its thrilling shots of athletes escaping bulls, A French Youth is often beautiful to behold. However, this feature-length documentary gets repetitive pretty fast. Jawad and Belka are compelling heroes, but there are only so many scenes one can watch of an injured bullfighter nursing their wounds before one thinks, “I get it! This sport is dangerous but they love it!”

Light on plot, I would still recommend A French Youth for anyone who enjoys the gorgeous French countryside and artful shots of angry bulls. This is a beautiful film, even if it isn’t always scintillating.