{{Short description|French film by Joséphine Japy}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox film | name = The Wonderers | image = The Wonderers.jpg | alt = | caption = French theatrical release poster | native_name = {{Infobox name module|fr|Qui brille au combat}} | director = Joséphine Japy | writer = {{Plainlist| * Joséphine Japy * Olivier Torres }} | producer = | starring = {{Plainlist| * Mélanie Laurent * Pierre-Yves Cardinal * Angelina Woreth * Sarah Pachoud }} | cinematography = Romain Carcanade | editing = Nicolas Desmaison | music = Mattia Luchini | studio = Cowboys Films | distributor = Apollo Distribution | released = {{Film date|df=yes|2025|5|15|Cannes|2025|12|31|France}} | runtime = 96 minutes<ref name="cannes">{{Cite web |title=QUI BRILLE AU COMBAT (THE WONDERERS) |url=https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/f/qui-brille-au-combat/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Festival de Cannes |language=en-US}}</ref> | country = France<ref name="cannes"/> | language = French | budget = €3.3 million<ref name="scriptoclap">{{Cite web |title=Qui brille au combat |url=https://scriptoclap.fr/oeuvres/qui-brille-au-combat/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=1 October 2024 |website=ScriptOclap |language=fr}}</ref> }} '''''The Wonderers''''' ({{langx|fr|'''Qui brille au combat'''}}) is a 2025 French drama film directed by Joséphine Japy in her directorial debut, from a screenplay she co-wrote with Olivier Torres based on the true story of her younger sister, Bertille, who has a severe disability that leads to autistic behavior. It stars Mélanie Laurent, Pierre-Yves Cardinal, Angelina Woreth and Sarah Pachoud.
The film had its world premiere at the Special Screenings section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on 15 May. It was released theatrically in France by Apollo Distribution on 31 December 2025.
== Plot == Set in the French Riviera, it follows a family dealing with the severe disability of their youngest daughter, 13-year-old Bertille, while her older sister, 17-year-old Marion, seeks refuge in a relationship with an older boy.
== Cast == * Mélanie Laurent as Madeleine<ref name="cannes"/> * Pierre-Yves Cardinal as Gilles * Angelina Woreth as Marion * Sarah Pachoud as Bertille * Félix Kysyl as Thomas * Anne Loiret * Juliette Gasquet * Thomas Gioria * Birane Ba * Maxence Tual * Stéphane Varupenne * Ilinka Lony * Lucas Cenciai * Najim Zeghoudi * Pascal Decolland * Serpentine Teyssier
== Production == === Development === ''The Wonderers'' is the directorial debut of French actress Joséphine Japy.<ref name="deadline">{{Cite web |first=Melanie |last=Goodfellow |date=4 September 2024 |title=Pulsar Content Boards Joséphine Japy's 'The Wonderers' With Mélanie Laurent, Pierre-Yves Cardinal & Angelina Woreth |url=https://deadline.com/2024/09/pulsar-content-boards-josephine-japy-the-wonderers-melanie-laurent-pierre-yves-cardinal-angelina-woreth-1236077420/ |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> The screenplay, co-written by Japy and Olivier Torres,<ref name="scriptoclap"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Olivier Torres - Scénariste |url=https://www.ubba.eu/fiche/scenariste/olivier-torres |access-date=1 October 2024 |website=UBBA |language=fr}}</ref> was based on the true story of Japy's younger sister, Bertille, who has a severe disability that Japy described as "a rare genetic disease that leads to autistic behavior".<ref name="Télé-Loisirs">{{Cite magazine |last=El Himani |first=Rime |date=15 May 2024 |title=Joséphine Japy (Tapie sur Netflix) très émue en se confiant sur le handicap de sa petite soeur |url=https://www.programme-tv.net/news/people/353192-josephine-japy-tapie-sur-netflix-tres-emue-en-se-confiant-sur-le-handicap-de-sa-petite-soeur/ |magazine=Télé-Loisirs |language=fr}}</ref> The film was produced by Cowboys Films.<ref name="deadline"/>
Mélanie Laurent, Pierre-Yves Cardinal, Angelina Woreth and Sarah Pachoud were announced in the cast on 4 September 2024.<ref name="deadline"/> Laurent directed Japy in her second film as a director, the coming-of-age drama ''Breathe'' (2014), which earned Japy a nomination for the César Award for Most Promising Actress.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keslassy |first=Elsa |date=2 March 2015 |title=Film Movement Acquires U.S. Rights to Melanie Laurent's 'Breathe' (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/film-movement-acquires-u-s-rights-to-melanie-laurents-breathe-exclusive-1201444243/ |website=Variety}}</ref> Anne Loiret, Juliette Gasquet, Félix Kysyl, Thomas Gioria, Birane Ba, Maxence Tual, Stéphane Varupenne, Ilinka Lony, Lucas Cenciai, Najim Zeghoudi, Pascal Decolland and Serpentine Teyssier completed the cast.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Sandie Galan |date=2 November 2024 |title=Fin de tournage de « Qui Brille Au Combat », premier long métrage de @josephinejapy |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DB4UCt6gHVh |website=Instagram |language=fr}}</ref>
The film's original title was ''Bertille''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meeus |first=Carl |date=7 November 2023 |title=Joséphine Japy: la double vie de l'héroïne de la série Tapie |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/josephine-japy-double-vie-20231107 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231108122110/https://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/josephine-japy-double-vie-20231107 |archive-date=8 November 2023 |access-date=1 October 2024 |website=Le Figaro |language=fr}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Japy said she was looking at the meaning of her sister's name and found out that it means "the one who shines in battle" (or "woman warrior"), and literally "{{lang|fr|qui brille au combat}}" in French,<ref name="Télé-Loisirs"/> which ended up being the film's final title in French.<ref name="Télé-Loisirs"/>
=== Filming === Principal photography began in the South of France on 18 September 2024,<ref name="deadline"/> and wrapped on 30 October 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Japy |first=Joséphine |date=5 November 2024 |title=Fin de tournage pour Qui brille au combat… |url=https://www.instagram.com/josephinejapy/p/DB_3PfWAx6a/ |website=Instagram |language=fr}}</ref>
== Release == [[File:MKr377741 Qui brille au combat (Cannes 2025).jpg|thumb|Cast and crew at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on 15 May 2025.]] Pulsar Content handles international sales and presented the film to buyers at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.<ref name="deadline"/> The film had its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in the Special Screenings section on 15 May 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goodfellow |first=Melanie |date=23 April 2025 |title=Cannes Adds 16 New Titles To 2025 Selection Including Lynne Ramsay's 'Die, My Love'; Kristen Stewart's 'The Chronology Of Water' & Ethan Coen's 'Honey Don't!' |url=https://deadline.com/2025/04/cannes-adds-films-2025-line-up-1236371726/ |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref><ref name="Screenings Guide">{{cite web|url=https://cdn.festival-cannes.com/media/uploads/2025/05/2025_cannes_horaires-web-2.pdf|title=The Screenings Guide of the 78th Festival de Cannes|date=8 May 2025|website=Festival de Cannes |page=3 |access-date=8 May 2025}}</ref>
Apollo Distribution released the film in France on 31 December 2025.<ref name="deadline"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=24 April 2025 |title=Qui brille au combat |url=https://apollo-films.fr/qui-brille-au-combat/ |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=Apollo Films |language=fr}}</ref>
==Accolades== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="width: 100%;" |- ! scope="col"| Award / Festival ! scope="col"| Date of ceremony ! scope="col"| Category ! scope="col"| Recipient(s) ! scope="col"| Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |- ! scope="row" |Cannes Film Festival | 23 May 2025 | Caméra d'Or | Joséphine Japy | {{nom}} | <ref name="TEFF">{{Cite web |title=Qui brille au combat |url=https://teff.be/films/qui-brille-au-combat |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=The Extraordinary Film Festival |language=fr}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | {{lang|fr|Festival 2 Valenciennes|italic=no}} | 30 September 2025 | Revelation Award | Sarah Pachoud and Angelina Woreth | {{won}} | <ref>{{Cite web |date=1 October 2025 |title=Palmarès 2025 - Festival 2 Valenciennes |url=https://festival2valenciennes.fr/palmares-2025/ |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=Festival 2 Valenciennes |language=fr}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |The Extraordinary Film Festival | 24 November 2025 | Best Film | Joséphine Japy | {{nom}} | <ref name="TEFF"/> |- |}
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website}} * {{IMDb title}} * {{Allocine title}} * {{Unifrance title}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes}}
{{Portal bar|Film|France|2020s}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wonderers, The}} Category:2025 films Category:2025 French films Category:2025 French-language films Category:2025 directorial debut films Category:French drama films Category:Films about disability in France Category:French films based on actual events