Read My Lips (2001)
"Sur mes lèvres" (original title)

She is almost deaf and she lip-reads. He is an ex-convict. She wants to help him. He thinks no one can help except himself.

Director:

Jacques Audiard

Writers:

Jacques Audiard, Tonino Benacquista

Stars:

Vincent Cassel, Emmanuelle Devos, Olivier Gourmet

7 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Vincent Cassel	...	Paul
Emmanuelle Devos	...	Carla
Olivier Gourmet	...	Marchand
Olivier Perrier	...	Masson
Olivia Bonamy	...	Annie
Bernard Alane	...	Morel
Céline Samie	...	Josie
Pierre Diot	...	Keller
François Loriquet	...	Jean-François
Serge Onteniente	...	Mammouth (as Serge Boutleroff)
David Saracino	...	Richard Carambo
Christophe Vandevelde	...	Louis Carambo
Bô Gaultier de Kermoal	...	Le Barman
Loïc Le Page	...	Quentin
Nathalie Lacroix	...	L'Employée ANPE

Storyline

Young secretary Carla is a long-time employee of a property development company. Loyal and hardworking, first to arrive and last to leave, Carla is beginning to chafe at the limitations of her career and is looking to move up. But as a 35-five-year-old woman with a hearing deficiency, she is not sure how to climb out of her humdrum life, though she is confident in her own abilities. Into her life comes Paul Angeli, a new trainee she decides to hire. Paul is 25 years old and completely unskilled, but Carla covers for him when the need arises because of his other qualities - he's a thief, fresh out of jail and very good-looking. It's a case of good meeting bad.

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Plot Keywords:

deaf | ex convict | secretary | thief | debt | 

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Taglines:

Il va lui apprendre les mauvaises manières... Elle lui apprendra les bonnes.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, violence and some sexual content

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

17 October 2001 (France)

Also Known As:

Read My Lips

Filming Locations:

France

Box Office

Budget:

FRF 49,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$27,080 (USA) (5 July 2002)

Gross:

$1,359,133 (USA) (27 November 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+, Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC), Ciné B

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When the man calls for Paul Angeli and then hangs up, Carla peers into the copy room and then hangs up the phone. As she is sitting at her desk, the reflection of a moving crane or boom mic extension is visible in the glass behind her.

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Connections

References Rear Window (1954)

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Soundtracks

"Hands Up"
(Daspit & Lewis)
(c) (p) EMI Music Publishing

User Reviews

Fascinating and compelling storytelling

I picked this one up on a whim from the library, and was very pleasantly surprised. Lots of tight, expressionistic camera work, an equally tight script, and two superb actors all meld together to make one very fine piece of film. Not for the reptilian multiplex brain, but rather the true aficionado of cinema. If Hollywood ever does get its grimy hands on it, I'm sure it will ruin it. A choice treat all the way around. Other posters here have more than amply sung its praises, so I needn't bother duplicating their paeans; just take their advice, and mine, and don't miss this gem. Call it what you like; I call it two hours of entertainment well-spent. Read my lips: don't miss it.