Underrated Movie: Monsieur Hire
Title: Monsieur Hire
Year: 1989
Director: Patrice Leconte (The Girl on the Bridge)
Writers: Patrice Leconte and Patrick DeWolf, based on a novel by Georges Simenon
Stars: Michel Blanc, Sandrine Bonnaire (La Ceremonie)
The Story: A woman has been killed. The police suspect a antisocial, middle-aged man who likes to spy on his beautiful young next-door neighbor. But just when we start to worry about the object of his gaze, she turns the tables on her voyeur and takes control of the situation.
Why It’s Great: Leconte’s career is still going strong, and he’s one of the few French directors whose films routinely get released in the States, but he’s never become a household name over here. It doesn’t help his recognition factor that he keeps migrating through different genres, mastering each one and then moving on. What his films always have in common, however, is a heartbreaking romanticism. Americans find sex so alien and alienating, that we demand our movies either demonize it or worship it. The French, on the other hand are able to take a more nuanced view, exemplified by the audience’s complex relationship to Bonnaire. She is an object of desire with desires of her own, both wanted and wanting, both victim and vicitmizer.
Three more reasons at Cockeyed Caravan.
Link to this Post: http://www.moviewithme.com/blog/archives/570
March 7th, 2010 at 06:18
Michel Blanc did an incredible job interpreting his charater, Mr. Hire.(He usually plays the role of an “off the wall, funny guy”). If you are interested in French films and “Caf? Theatre” do take time to check out the story of his career and the creation of the well loved and hysterically funny group of actors/musiciens known in France as “Le Splendid”. Michel Blanc co-founded the “Le Splendid” in the 1970′s with Thierry L’Hermitte. Today, they are still performing in Paris at the “Splendid St.Martin”, when they are not making movies,(comedy),or putting together a new album of typically French “silly” songs,(these guys make you laugh until tears start rolling down your face!). Their songs and movies often become summertime hits exploding the “Top 40 charts” and their movie are blockbuster’s!
Their story is “an exception to the rule” here in France and they are a very, very talented group of “highschool friends” who definately earned their right ot fame and glory!