Winner of the Grand Jury Award at Sundance 2014, Damien Chazelle's Whiplash explores the violence and complexity of the relationship between Andrew Neiman, a talented 19-year-old drummer, and Terence Fletcher, his jazz teacher who is as tyrannical as he is intractable (played by J.K. Simmons, whose masterful performance won him the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2015). Fletcher creates rivalry between the young musicians at New York's prestigious Shaffer Conservatory where he teaches, using humiliating and brutal teaching methods. In this second feature, Chazelle - who considered becoming a professional drummer himself - questions our obsession with success and excellence, and explores the links between suffering and excellence. The gripping soundtrack, with its jangling cymbals and frenetic beats, perfectly accompanies the fast-paced editing. The film is a musical and visual experience of rare intensity.

Chloé Hofmann (CEC Unil)

The screening will be preceded by a conversation with Justin Hurwitz. The screening and the meeting are inseparable and can only be accessed with the purchase of a ticket.