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IMDbPro

The Eavesdropper

Original title: La mécanique de l'ombre
  • 20162016
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
52,579
13,037
François Cluzet and Denis Podalydès in The Eavesdropper (2016)
A financially struggling man who is looking for work two years after suffering a burn-out. He gets hired by a mysterious employer to transcribe phone tapped conversations, which propels him into the heart of a large-scale political plot and gets him trapped in the French secret services underworld.
Play trailer1:31
1 Video
8 Photos
ActionMysteryThriller
The unemployed Duval is contacted by a mysterious organization to transcribe intercepted calls. He accepts the job with no suspicions, since it restores stability to his life, but it will so... Read allThe unemployed Duval is contacted by a mysterious organization to transcribe intercepted calls. He accepts the job with no suspicions, since it restores stability to his life, but it will soon result in political shenanigans of all kinds.The unemployed Duval is contacted by a mysterious organization to transcribe intercepted calls. He accepts the job with no suspicions, since it restores stability to his life, but it will soon result in political shenanigans of all kinds.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
52,579
13,037
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Thomas Kruithof
    • Writers
      • Thomas Kruithof(original scenario)
      • Yann Gozlan(original scenario)
      • Marc Syrigas(collaboration)
    • Stars
      • François Cluzet
      • Denis Podalydès
      • Sami Bouajila
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Thomas Kruithof
    • Writers
      • Thomas Kruithof(original scenario)
      • Yann Gozlan(original scenario)
      • Marc Syrigas(collaboration)
    • Stars
      • François Cluzet
      • Denis Podalydès
      • Sami Bouajila
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 8User reviews
    • 53Critic reviews

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:31
    Official Trailer

    Photos8

    François Cluzet, Denis Podalydès, and Alba Rohrwacher in The Eavesdropper (2016)
    Alba Rohrwacher in The Eavesdropper (2016)
    Denis Podalydès in The Eavesdropper (2016)
    Sami Bouajila and François Cluzet in The Eavesdropper (2016)
    François Cluzet and Denis Podalydès in The Eavesdropper (2016)
    François Cluzet and Thomas Kruithof in The Eavesdropper (2016)
    François Cluzet in The Eavesdropper (2016)

    Top cast

    Edit
    François Cluzet
    François Cluzet
    • Duval
    Denis Podalydès
    Denis Podalydès
    • Clément
    • (as Denis Podalydès de la Comédie Française)
    Sami Bouajila
    Sami Bouajila
    • Labarthe
    Simon Abkarian
    Simon Abkarian
    • Gerfaut
    Alba Rohrwacher
    Alba Rohrwacher
    • Sara
    Philippe Résimont
    Philippe Résimont
    • De Grugy
    Daniel Hanssens
    • Albert
    Bruno Georis
    • Le bras droit de Labarthe
    Olivier Bony
    • Le voisin
    Bernard Eylenbosch
    • L'homme de main
    Alexia Depicker
    Alexia Depicker
    • La responsable RH
    Nader Farman
    • Al-Shamikh
    Angelo Dello Spedale
    • Pernot
    Yves Jadoul
    • Le vieil homme du couloir
    Christian Hening
    • L'employé de ménage
    • (as Christian Hening de Franceschi)
    Gaël Maleux
    • L'agent de la DGST
    Stefan Cuvelier
    Stefan Cuvelier
    • Le barman
    Jamal Hallouzi
    • L'homme qui crie au point-phone
    • Director
      • Thomas Kruithof
    • Writers
      • Thomas Kruithof(original scenario)
      • Yann Gozlan(original scenario)
      • Marc Syrigas(collaboration)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Captifs
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The jigsaw puzzle that Duval (François Cluzet) is seen doing, is of Rembrandt's 'Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem'.
    • Goofs
      We see Duval (François Cluzet) typing with two fingers, but in the close-ups we see the hands typing with ten fingers.

    User reviews8

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    Not enough devil in the detail
    A French thriller; A story about an unemployed man who is hired by a mysterious organization to transcribe intercepted calls. This shadowy spy story has a theme about one who places trust in those who don't trust others and places the viewer in the predicaments about telling the truth and how it feels to be trapped with seemingly no way out. The film mounts tension very well in the first act, producing intrigue and paranoia thanks to a minimalist style of direction. But, it fails to sustain the tension at the introduction of a plot change, and plot convolution thereafter. There are are a some implausible details like the use of the scribe's old fashioned typewriter in a modern setting and his easy trust of a strange, anonymous employer who he would have vetted. All in all, it is overworught and lacks substance but it is made very watchable for its lead performance and some brilliant sound design.
    helpful•4
    4
    • shakercoola
    • Aug 6, 2018

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 11, 2017 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • Belgium
      • France
    • Language
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Scribe
    • Filming locations
      • Brussels, Brussels-Capital, Belgium
    • Production companies
      • 2425 Films
      • Scope Pictures
      • Radio Télévision Belge Francophone (RTBF)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,200,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,455,120
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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