Faster

The film Faster gets off to a flying start with a racing car in front of us, a go-kart being driven at full speed along a small, steep country road, then suddenly a flashback takes us away from this bucolic landscape and back 17 years. We thus discover Max's childhood, who, contrary to her name, is not a boy, but a very happy and dynamic little girl. In fact, she is a real bundle of energy, quick in all circumstances, like on her little child's bike pedaling at full speed. As she grows up, this taste for speed will continue to attract her and it is only natural that Max will become passionate about karting, which she has just discovered by chance and which already gives her a new thrill, the desire to push herself to the limit, to test her limits.

Her mother, played by Anne Marivin, is touching, sincere and very present on the screen thanks to her emotion. She is there to support her daughter in this all-consuming passion. With her encouragement, Max starts winning cups in junior competitions, but it is through her enrolment at the prestigious Winfield Racing School that the young girl progresses towards Formula 1. She learns the harsh realities of this essentially male sport, the rivalries between the participants and the egos of some. At the school, her encounter with a young man, William Muller, enabled her to assert herself and become more pugnacious during races, determined to beat him and finish ahead of him on the podium. The actor who plays him, Rik Kleve, is as attractive and arrogant as you could wish for, often playing on Max's nerves to push her to her limits and get her riled up.

Max, who sometimes oversteps the mark with the exuberance of youth, feels rejected as a girl in this male-dominated environment and is angry with the whole world. But she quickly learns from her driving instructors that you only earn the respect of your peers on the track through your driving style, it doesn't matter whether you're a man or a woman, you can't cheat on the track. The actress who plays Max, Paola Locatelli, is as bubbly as can be, sensitive, daring, fiery, and knows how to make us feel her weakness in the face of adversity.

Another important character to note in the cast, Stanislas de Clermont Tonnerre, in his forties, aptly played by Alban Lenoir, is a former pilot and karting champion who has retired from racing and since then has been passionate only about his collection of luxury cars. He is quite likeable, a little whimsical, original in his way of life, funny with his lines and his behavior. Can he manage to tame Max, who is so different from him, and show him the tricks of the trade despite his resistance?

This fast-paced film directed by Morgan S. Dalibert is a compendium of emotion, dynamism, perseverance, hope and values. A technical tour de force that allows spectators to follow the drivers in real time, to feel the power of the machines, the roar of the engines. A production that allows us to get to know this high-speed motor sport, a beautiful encounter between concrete technical demands and those of the cinema, which is certainly less real, but which succeeds in conveying emotions. The  film manages to captivate us and makes the scenes that unfold before our eyes credible.

The running time of 1 hour 38 minutes is perfect, attention does not wane throughout the film, the intensity increases during the race starts, we are right in the middle of the action, we jump and shudder with the drivers. The dialog is simple and easy to understand, with perhaps a certain regret at the lack of technicality in the words and actions that would allow a better understanding of the pilot's profession. It is an overview of the sport and not a detailed professional analysis. The staging of Rapide skillfully alternates between breathless moments of suspense and excitement with close-ups of karts on the circuits, and more relaxing scenes far from the noise or fury of the engines, where feelings of love, friendship and sometimes anger abound. This endearing film for all ages allows you to have a good time and appreciate the strength, courage and passion of the drivers who control their machines despite the dizzying speed of the cars. A dramatic comedy sprinkled with romance, chase scenes and suspense.

Faster
Written and directed by Morgan S. Dalibert
Produced by Clément Miserez, Matthieu Warter, Candice Vigneron
Starring Paola Locatelli, Alban Lenoir, Anne Marivin, Rik Kleve, Mathilde La Musse, Tchéky Karyo
Music by Etienne Forget
Cinematography : Florent Astolfi
Edited by Walter Mauriot
Production companies : France 2 Cinéma, Radar Films, UMedia
Distributed by Universal Pictures International France (France)
Release date : April 16, 2025 (France)
Running time : 98 minutes

Seen on Thursday, April 3, 2025 at Publicis Champs Elysées

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