Read My Lips - a french romantic thriller

While choosing a film to review this week, I got confused a bit. Wanted a crime thriller – as some of you (obviously, bored with my choices) warned me of dire consequences, otherwise (received threat messages too)!

Till now I have been writing about the movies I had watched few months back, apparently my top layer of favorite movies got exhausted; I have been pushed to second tier now. Downloaded few new films; thought about some old movies and finally zeroed in on a Holy wood thriller “Drive”. It received overall good reviews and won few awards too; which made me to watch. Even though it is a critically acclaimed film, I felt something was missing. As Tamil director Mahendran says “the measure of a good movie is how long it stays in your heart after watching it”. . Drive- did not affect me; did not stay in me at all, though it was a decent thriller. Thus, I decided not to write and waste my time on that movie.

Then I realized, compared to a professional movie critic I have lot of liberties, don’t have to see all crap movies (most important one); stop watching in the middle (Dhrishyam); decide not to write about it after viewing. Otherwise imagine, the three hours- torture of “Nonjaan” (have faith in your smartness) like movies. Even if someone lures me with Harley Davidson bike, I won’t undergo such extreme punishments (Nonjaan has been declared as Hercules at Box office by public!).

On a serious note, no one has any right to take away few hours in your life- just like that, so the bad films.

My intentions are also very different; to share my good movie viewing experiences with you. Hence, while writing about favorite stuffs, exaggeration happens naturally, right? Therefore, I agree with some of your feedbacks, like - my reviews feel better than the movie itself. And lastly, one important limitation; I lack technical knowledge and training to write a review like a professional (but legally allowed to fake sometimes!).

So I moved on to a French movie “Read my lips”.

Hold on… hold on please, don’t get angry… – this is also a crime thriller!

I liked it instantly. When I started writing the review I realized the differences between those two movies (Drive and Read my Lips).

Good European movies, have some unexplained intricacies in their stories; allows you to explore, involves your participation to untangle the complexities. Like a modern painting, poetry - the creator says, this is what I made; it’s up to you to interpret, I won’t explain what it is.   Holly wood, on the other hand, most of the movies are straight forward, with clearly explained screenplays, power house heroes, mindless action and big budget-wastage of money…the list goes on. I would be happy to hear counter arguments from die hard -Holly wood fans!

Read my lips, is a French crime thriller directed by Jacques Audiard and it was released in the year 2001. It won many French, European and international awards. This director subsequently made two more great movies (would be reviewing in future). `The Beat that My Heart Skipped ‘and `A Prophet`.

Story

This is a story about, a young lady – Carla (Emmanuelle Davos) in her thirties, who works in a construction company as a secretary. She struggles with inferiority complex, insecurity because of her very average look and hearing impairment.

But, she has a special gift; can read lips –from distance; easily find out the details of the conversation.

In the office everyone exploits her and makes her over work. Her boss takes credit of her hard work. Apart from that, she lives alone; does not have any social life like her sister, who frequently goes out with boyfriends by making her to babysit.

After seeing her fainting on a busy day, boss tells her to hire a help to decrease the burden (She tells no, initially as a reflex, thinking that she would be replaced). She weirdly, chooses an ex criminal - Paul (Vincent Cassel), who just come out of jail, as an assistant. It is interesting to note, people who have disability or inferiority complex always prefer similar companions; perhaps they feel more comfortable with them (e.g. shigeru and Guddu). Her life changes from that moment.

She helps him to find a place to stay and in return with his help she takes revenge on her boss.  She realizes one day about his continued underworld connection – to repay the debt he works as a bartender in a night club. Here again it is clear, if you are once labelled as a criminal, you always remain one.

Paul wants to take revenge on his creditor (his boss) and at the same time looking for some quick, easy money to settle in life. When he comes to know about a hidden heist money in that night club, he seeks help of her special talent (reading lips) to find out the place where it is hidden. She helps him and they loot that money.

More than what he imagined, she intelligently rescues him when he lands up in trouble, from his boss (for a change heroine rescues hero from villain in the climax!).

Both the main characters (Carla and Paul) are living on the edges of the society; cut off from main stream. Their stories always fascinate.

The film works mainly because of the Carla character; very interesting and mysterious in some ways. She hides her hearing disability from others; overworks, tolerates insults because of her insecurity. She is insecure because she suffers from extreme lack of confidence; has lots of self-doubts about her appearance (when alone stands nude in front of mirror and checks her physical appearance) and abilities. When she has to select an assistant, she chooses an ordinary one because intelligent one may replace her; or she may not be able to dominate or feel equal. Compares herself with her sister and colleagues and feels inferior.

Confidence is enigmatic. Your ability, skills and performance over a period of time helps to build confidence. Almost impossible to fool one’s own self. Life would be very easy if you can fool yourself and boast confidence. Of course, it would be a nightmare for others; you should be an insane to do that. (Delusion!)

She describes as if she was asking for a dating partner while hiring an assistant. She has psychological issues. Desperately wants one male companion to show off.

The way she helps him we think, she likes him (men always misinterpret women's feelings!) and tries to have physical intimacy (secretly she fantasizes about him). He too gets shocked like audience, when shooed away by her whenever he approaches her for sex. Those scenes are so raw; immaturity and hesitations of the characters are filmed in a pleasant way. You realize in the end the reason why she refuses early and accepts later. She wants to prove her skills, intelligence to herself and to her boyfriend and earn respect before that. (Complexity?!- of course she is a woman!)

The bottom line is everyone has some special talents. No one is disabled, they are differently abled!

I would recommend you to watch both the movies this week. Both are good entertaining movies. But because of the reasons I mentioned above I enjoyed Read My Lips more than Drive.

Finally, my dear friends, you asked me one thriller I have given you two. So please no more threat messages!

Cheers!

13-09-14,

8 pm.