Rookie (2021)

Directed by: Lieven Van Baelen | 101 minutes | drama | Actors: Veerle Baetens, Matteo Simoni, Stefaan Degand, Tibo Vandenborre, Stilian Keli, Ilse De Rauw, Guy Combes, Valentijn Braeckman, Sieber Marly, Laurence Briand, Ramë Berisha

Despite the fact that Nicky lost his brother to a motorcycle accident, his love for motorcycle racing remains unconditional. The asphalt is sacred ground and the entourage around the circuits is like a warm bath for the rising star. The shrewd Nicky, played well by Matteo Simoni, can push through to the professional level as an amateur boxer. Then, just during the breakthrough race, he has a horrific accident. And although this idiosyncratic athlete has an enormous will to push boundaries, his body says definitively ‘no’ during rehabilitation and his great love turns into an existential struggle. However, his nephew Charlie (Valentijn Braeckman), who follows Nicky like a chick, also appears to have inherited a taste for motorcycle racing. Visibly enjoying, Nicky therefore takes Charlie, the rookie, under his wing, but Charlie’s mother, Vero (Veerle Baetens), has serious reservations and does not want to carry a coffin away from the race track again.

This race-crazy production involves a rather crude study of a self-destructive alpha male projecting his dream onto his nephew. ‘The Racer’ (Kieron J. Walsh, 2020), also with Simoni, and the testosterone-driven ‘Rundskop’ (Michaël R. Roskam, 2011) are comparable films from Belgian soil. All these characters accelerate in the corners where it is just not possible, where the adrenaline is pumping through the bloodstreams. Similar to the behavior of an addict. In addition, the explosive mix of obsession and sport leaves destructive traces on family and surroundings.

Cinematically, ‘Rookie’ is quite tight and the representation of the motorcycle racing environment comes across as realistic. You would like to delve further into that, but the story focuses on the triangle of Nicky, Charlie and Vero. Ultimately, their acting performances carry the film. It is a pity that in the case of the youngest of the three, Valentijn Braeckman, the interpretation is rather dull and predictable.

Too many sports clichés and dramatic headlines kill ‘Rookie’: the destitute and misunderstood top athlete crosses all kinds of personal and ethical boundaries because the top simply asks for it. And while the finale of ‘Rookie’ is an antithesis to the ‘Rocky’-esque movies, it’s not necessarily more original. Leaving aside the meritorious recreation of the motor racing scene and Simoni’s inspired performance, the sports drama with the dark edge and the self-destructive man has long ceased to be unique. For example, director Lieve Van Baelen experiences a somewhat false start.