What is it about? -- Helmed by critically acclaimed French director, Jacques Audiard, this film (which is in French, no less) is actually a remake of American writer-director, James Toback's 1978 film, Fingers. Both films share the same theme: a thug/gangster tries to balance his more aggressive lifestyle whilst reaching for his dream of becoming a concert pianist (sounds nonsensical, but it really isn't!). Though the original version gained respectable reviews back then, it did rather poorly both in the US and in the UK, probably due to its inaccesible & violent content (or so I've read). Who's in it? -- Nobody recoqnizable at all. However, the main actor, Romain Duris, delivers a fantastic performance as the main protagonist of the story, Thomas Seyr; there's such a raw and "dangerous" element to his onscreen energy, even in those scenes where he is simply alone playing on the piano. The rest of the cast is excellent too, with everyone filling their roles perfectly even right down to the Chinese piano teacher who doesn't speak French.
Why should/shouldn't you watch it? -- Four reasons why this film could possibly be NOT an enjoyable watch for the average Joe. Firstly, it is entirely in French. Second, it's not a comedy. Third, there's a certain film-noir-ish quality about it -- i.e. it belongs to the genre of films with relatively an unsympathetic way of looking at its subject matter. Moreover, the ambivalent ending leaves much unresolved. Nevertheless, if these aforesaid factors do not turn you off, then this film could make a very fulfilling watch.
In a nutshell -- Since it won the BAFTA award (the British version of the Oscar) for best foreign film this year, it must be somewhat worth watching, right?? Anyway, I like films that successfully portray such abstract issues (in this case, man's dual nature, artist vs animal) without resorting to melodrama ala Steven Spielberg.
my ratings -- 4.0/5 stars!!!
ps: The Beat That My Heart Skipped is only available for viewing at the Picturehouse.
