Three short films on sports and ethics

Three short films have been released recently, each exploring sports and the moral choices people make within athletic competition. These films offer different perspectives on how human behavior is shaped by the pressures and challenges of sports.

Ball Face's absurd humor

Ball Face, a 2025 stop-motion film from the United Kingdom and Canada, directed by Laurence Thérien, uses concentrated absurd humor to depict a young student who repeatedly catches a ball with her face. The film employs plasticine — a type of modeling clay — to create a body horror aesthetic reminiscent of David Cronenberg's style.

Sauce Playground's basketball focus

Sauce Playground, a 2026 French film directed by Gabriel Harel, follows a basketball match between an egotistical influencer and a kind educator. The film meticulously captures every movement, including three-point shots, acrobatic dribbles, and authoritative dunks, offering a detailed look at the game's physicality.

Vautours and moral tension

Vautours, a 2025 South African and French film directed by Dian Weys, focuses on the intense competition among tow truck drivers in Cape Town. The film uses long, shoulder-mounted camera shots to create tension, similar to Night Call, where Jake Gyllenhaal played a journalist. It highlights moral dilemmas that arise in the aftermath of car accidents.

Upcoming film and interviews

In addition, interviews with directors Laurence Thérien, Gabriel Harel, and Damien Froidevaux have been released about Silence on ferme, a 31-minute French short film set to air on October 26 at 1:40. The film will also be available on replay on Arte.tv.