Heartbeat Detector (2007)

A psychologist discovers troubling links between Nazism and modern-day big business.

Director:

Nicolas Klotz

Writers:

François Emmanuel (story), Elisabeth Perceval

Stars:

Mathieu Amalric, Michael Lonsdale, Edith Scob

6 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Mathieu Amalric	...	Simon
Michael Lonsdale	...	Mathias Jüst
Edith Scob	...	Lucy Jüst
Lou Castel	...	Arie Neumann
Jean-Pierre Kalfon	...	Karl Rose
Valérie Dréville	...	Lynn Sanderson
Laetitia Spigarelli	...	Louisa
Delphine Chuillot	...	Isabelle
Nicolas Maury	...	Tavera
Rémy Carpentier	...	Jacques Paolini
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Abtmalt
Solène Agobert
Louis Aguettant	...	Le chanteur de fado
Nassim Amaouche
Marie-Reine Beaumesnil

Storyline

Paris today. Simon works as psychologist in human resources department of petrochemical corporation. When Management gets him to investigate one of the factory's executives, Simon'perception goes disturbingly chaotic and cloudy. The experience affects his body, his mind, his personal life and his sensibility. The calm assurance that made him such a rigorous technician starts to falter.

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Plot Keywords:

psychologist | nazism | corporation | illegal immigration | voice over narration | 

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Genres:

Drama | History | Music | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

12 September 2007 (France)

Also Known As:

The Human Question

Filming Locations:

Le Mans, Sarthe, France

Box Office

Budget:

€600,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,309, 16 March 2008, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$5,309, 16 March 2008

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sophie Dulac Productions, Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC), CinéCinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

143 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Les amants cinéma (2008)

User Reviews

Everything is going as planned, although it is possible we are a little behind schedule.

I last saw Mathieu Amalric as Jean-Do in The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Winner of a César for that performance and two others, he is an accomplished actor. He displays his considerable skills in this film, which has him in the role of a psychologist who must interpret words and actions of others.

He is charged with assessing the mental state of the company CEO, Mathias Jüst, played brilliantly by Michael Lonsdale, who has two César nominations himself, and a BAFTA nomination for the 1973 version of The Day of the Jackal. This occurs soon after the company undergoes a massive downsizing.

The verbal give and take between the two was captivating. It became really interesting when Jüst sprung upon him that he knew he was being investigated, and gave information the reached back to the Third Reich.

The involvement of the principles in the extermination of Jews was reveled in a way that was similar to the discussion of the reduction of employees in the company. People were referred to as loads or units in each case, not as humans.

The inhuman language of extermination becomes the inhuman language of business, and the children of the Reich are left to deal with their father's sins.

Powerful.