‘Block Pass’ Review – Strong Performances In An Otherwise Familiar Coming-Of-Age Story [Cannes 2024]

There is a central earnestness to the new film Block Pass (La Pampa), which attempts to portray a coming-of-age story about two friends. The film breaks down the hard truth as these two come to terms with the pains of adulthood while navigating the perception of masculinity and the burden of expectations. There is a heavy-handedness to the themes, and at points, the film airs on the side of overt melancholy. In what is the debut for director Antoine Chevrollier, he crafts a story of teenage frustration and rebellion that is quite poignant, even though sometimes the narrative feels static. 

At the onset, we meet Willy (Sayyid El Alami) and Jojo (Amaury Fouche). These two best friends spend their days at Pampa, a motocross track. Jojo is an aspiring racer but carries the dreams of his overly ambitious and pushy father (Damien Bonnard). Life, for the most part, is causal and carefree, except Jojo carries a secret that he is gay. When Willy accidentally discovers him in an affair with one of the mechanics, he feels betrayed that his friend kept such a secret from him. However, as the story reveals, Jojo has kept this matter private for fear of bullying and disapproval from his father. The bond between the two friends grows deeper as Willy stands by his side, even when he is outed and faces estrangement from his family.

 Block Pass presents the motocross world as hyper-masculine, and in a way, Jojo is playing a part in that world. The film establishes a deep-seated homophobia in the community, which threatens Jojo’s reputation and status. The complex relationship between Jojo and his father is only ever given a surface-level exposition. Instead, the film focuses primarily on Willy and his own navigating adolescence into adulthood. The nature of toxic masculinity is only briefly discussed, and given the layers of the story, it is a shame that avenue is left hanging. As Jojo’s characters provide enough engaging lanes for the narrative to unwind, the situation with Willy feels a bit derivative. 

As far as having a point-of-view character, Willy is the eyes of the story. He is the typical observer, as much of the dramatic narrative involves Jojo. This is where the film goes a little static. The film reveals many of its moments through conversations rather than in the moment, removing the sense of urgency that the otherwise hefty narrative tries to present.

Still, Block Pass‘s performances give it enough momentum to overlook any lapses in the story. Despite lacking strong material, El Alami imbues teenage anxiety with a sense of stoicism and weary bitterness. Equally compelling is Fouche, who brings Jojo to life with intricate complexity and vast pathos. Both complement each other’s performances and serve as the film’s central and all-encompassing tenets.   

To avoid revealing any pivotal moments, the sport of motocross fits central to the story. Jojo is initially a devil-may-care individual at the film’s opening, while Willy is more cautious and shy. The film’s events cause a natural change or progression in Willy. His character makes a series of bold decisions in the final act, accentuating his transition from a boy to a man. The burden of expectations placed on Jojo by his father comes full circle in the film’s final moments. Here, Willy decides to hit the gas or pump the brakes metaphorically.  

Block Pass occasionally leans into the formulaic cliché of these stories. There is a hurried feeling to rush completion without letting the emotional beats breathe. However, the performances are enough to propel this film across the finish line, even if the result is shaky. 

Block Pass held its World Premiere as a part of the Critic’s Week section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

Director: Antoine Chevrollier

Screenwriters: Antoine Chevrollier, Bérénice Bocquillon, Faïza Guène

Rated: NR

Runtime: 103m