Ollie – Schools Screening
Discovery Film Festival schools enquiry form will be live from Mon 24 August at 10:00: check back here to submit your request.
At 13, Pierre returns to live on his father's farm after the sudden death of his mother. Harassed at school, he takes refuge in his passion: skateboarding. He meets Bertrand, an outsider with a hidden past as a former skateboarder, who takes him under his wing. Together, they try to rebuild their lives.
A deeply personal film inspired by the director’s love for skateboarding and growing up in the countryside, Ollie is named after a fundamental skateboarding move necessary to leap over obstacles and to do advanced flip tricks. Said to be the first ‘French skate film’, the film has great camerawork showing skateboarding tricks against unusual backdrops for an urban sport (who would have thought you could skateboard while feeding the cows?). Ollie is a poignant film about friendship, second opportunities, and pursuing your dreams.
Screening times for schools
| Date | Time |
| Wed 11 November | 12:30 |
Advisory:
Ollie presents some difficult themes on screen. Pierre is bullied at school, mostly verbally and online. On one occasion, he becomes furious at one of the bullies’ slurs directed towards his mum, and he uses his skateboard to hit him. He is then chased and hit on the head. When he is bullied, his female friend always stands up for him and faces the bullies.
There are other instances in the film with some violence: beating an adult and one scene of Pierre’s dad slapping his son after Pierre says something harmful to his dad.
The film also contains strong language and shows underage smoking. Bertrand drinks alcohol but this is not romanticised. In fact, the film clearly shows the negative impact this addiction has had on his life. When Pierre takes a can of beer from him, Bertrand reprimands him. There is one scene where Bertrand is feeling very down that suggests he will be taking heroine, but we don’t see him using.
CfE info:
Age recommendation: 15+
Level: Senior
Curricular subjects: Languages (French), Expressive Arts, Film & Screen, Social Studies, Health & Wellbeing.
Themes: Intergenerational friendship, skateboarding, first love, rural life, family relationships, bullying, standing up for yourself, overcoming grief and trauma.