De Battre Mon Coeur S'est Arrêté (2005)
Genre: Drama
Duration: 107 minuten
Alternative title: The Beat That My Heart Skipped
Country:
France
Directed by: Jacques Audiard
Stars: Romain Duris, Aure Atika and Emmanuelle Devos
IMDb score:
7,2 (21.539)
Releasedate: 16 March 2005
De Battre Mon Coeur S'est Arrêté plot
"Can music tame the raging soul?"
He looks like his one parent, but wants to follow in the footsteps of the other. Like his father, Tom earns his money from dubious house trading. In an apartment that he wants to buy cheaply, he releases rats, a squatted building is violently made uninhabitable. Only when one evening he encounters the impresario of his deceased mother, who was a concert pianist, does Tom realize that he also wanted to become a musician. The desire to reshape that ambition splits his existence.
Actors and actresses
Thomas Seyr
Robert Seyr
Fabrice
Sami
Miao Lin
Aline
Chris
Minskov
Minskov's Girlfriend
Woman
Reviews & comments
remorz
-
- 2498 messages
- 2750 votes
The most beautiful to see is undoubtedly the character Tom, portrayed with great passion by Romain Duris (I later found out that he plays Manu in Dobermann).
And passion is the keyword for me in this film. Tom (re)finds his passion, for him strongly related to his deceased mother; to play the piano. In his struggle for this passion, he has to free himself from his father and his current job, but above all he learns to master his own nervousness, frustration and fear of failure.
An (occasionally very recognizable) struggle/quest for fulfillment in life that actually forms the common thread in many scenes/storylines that appear quite random on a first viewing. Yet each scene seems to be an illustration of the growth process in which he rises above his own fragility.
The audiovisual content is among the best I've ever seen. Stylish editing and an almost observational camera, both often portrayed as nervously as Tom himself. The music is equally versatile, and once again perfectly reflects the inner conflicts of Tom's world. Everything is in fact integrated into the whole that has become De Battre Mon Coeur; a sensitive and passionate masterpiece within contemporary French cinema.
Absolute plus points are therefore the phenomenal performance of Duris, which can hardly be emphasized enough, but especially the scenes in which Tom receives piano lessons from the Chinese woman. The highlight of these scenes is undoubtedly the mutual outburst, where both, unintelligible to the other, scream out their emotions. They both trigger something in the other by letting themselves go. As OH put it nicely: feeling over semantics. Very charming scenes.
I've been trying for a few lines now, but how do you describe a movie that leaves you speechless at first? 5* and in the top 10 (3).
Translated from Dutch · View original
Fisico
-
- 10039 messages
- 5398 votes
Jacques Audiard again does not convince me and I can gradually conclude that this is not my favorite director. Nevertheless, I do notice that I do see potential in the films I've already seen of him, but I somehow never feel involved in them. De Battre Mon Cœur S'est Arrêté also has a promising script in which a man struggles with his personality and does not know which direction he wants to go. It is a matter of decisiveness and above all making choices. In other words, an intriguing (philosophical) starting point.
Tom has to look for a balance or even choice between his father and mother. At least, it is a choice he imposes on himself because he finds both ideals difficult to reconcile. As if he would deny one or be disappointed if he embraces the other. His (deceased?) mother was a pianist who gave him music from a young age. He rediscovers and resumes his former passion. On the other hand, his violent and aggressive behavior during his real estate activities. This also includes doing dirty jobs for his father. Tom is anything but an amiable or sympathetic person. The role is excellently fulfilled by Romain Duris. Tom balances between his role as a shady businessman and as a pianist. Audiard wishes to convey in his film - I think - that everyone makes their own choices or must take responsibility - for the life that he or she outlines for himself.
The Battre Mon Cœur S'est Arrêté is an understated, well-acted psychological drama. Not a bad movie, but I was missing something for that little bit more. Sufficient, therefore, 3.0*.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Hansiro
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- 168 messages
- 1689 votes
Romain Duris what a king, looks like you are watching a documentary. He is acting so naturally, really put down a character here that you can relate to. The inner battle he is having with his father on the one hand and his deceased mother on the other can really be felt through your screen.
Fantastically rendered film too, with rather unusual shots that create a strong atmosphere every time. The combination with the classical music was also a pleasure for the ears.
Another gem from Audiard for me.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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