Monsieur Hire (1989)

A recluse is accused of murdering a young woman simply because his neighbors think he is strange.

Director:

Patrice Leconte

Writers:

Georges Simenon (novel), Patrice Leconte (scenario, adaptation and dialogue)

Stars:

Michel Blanc, Sandrine Bonnaire, Luc Thuillier

6 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Michel Blanc	...	Monsieur Hire
Sandrine Bonnaire	...	Alice
Luc Thuillier	...	Emile
André Wilms	...	L'inspecteur de police
Eric Bérenger	...	Le gérant du bowling
Marielle Berthon	...	Pierrette Bourgeois
Philippe Dormoy	...	François
Marie Gaydu	...	La jeune fille du massage
Michel Morano	...	Le chauffeur de taxi
Nora Noël	...	La gardienne
Cristiana Réali	...	L'adolescente au bowling (as Christina Reali)
Bernard Soufflet	...	Le tatoueur
André Bauduin	...	Le consommateur de crèpes
Rozeen Landrevie	...	La petite fille au bouquet
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Francis Baudet	...	Le locataire sur le palier

Storyline

Monsieur Hire is a maladjusted, balding, middle-aged man living in France. He doesn't like to talk to people. A young woman is murdered and a police detective suspects M. Hire, just because his neighbors think he is strange.

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Plot Keywords:

peeping tom | brothel | voyeur | loneliness | tailor | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film is included on Roger Ebert's "Great Movies" list.

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Goofs

In the opening shot of the film, you can plainly see the stomach of the 'corpse' moving up and down.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Q & A/Spaced Invaders/The Guardian/Monsieur Hire (1990)

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Soundtracks

Quatuor en Sol Mineur Op. 25 de Brahms
Music by Johannes Brahms (as Brahms)
Performed by Alexander Balanescu, Kate Musker, Tony Hinnigan, Michael Nyman
Edtions Musicales HACHETTE PREMIERE ET COMPAGNIE - KELLY MUSIC
Copyright © 1989

User Reviews

Esoterically beautiful

"Monsieur Hire" is a compelling and deep character study which tells of a reclusive and peculiarly enigmatic and antisocial man, the title character, who is a suspect in a murder investigation and who obsessively watches a beautiful young woman from across his apartment courtyard. A methodically plodding, plaintive, and somber film-making masterwork, "M. Hire" offers none of the big budget bennies and cheap tinsel and titillation of the usual Hollywood fare. Likely to be a love it or hate it flick, "M. Hire" should appeal most to Europic devotees and those into psychodramas and character studies. (B+)

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

June 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Monsieur Hire

Filming Locations:

Studios 91 Arpajon, Saint-Germain-les-Arpajon, Essonne, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$29,980, 22 April 1990

Gross USA:

$1,417,030

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,417,030

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinéa, Hachette Première, FR3 Films Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1