Carla Behm (Emmanuelle Devos) is a secretary in a busy construction company. She is somewhat resentful of her deafness, not accepting it but unwilling to open up to others. She longs for a more glamorous life and lives vicariously on the relationships of others, reading glossy magazines during lunch or eavesdropping on lovers' conversations by lip-reading.
Her manager allows her to hire an assistant and she chooses young parolee Paul Angeli (Vincent Casell). She and Paul start an uncomfortable relationship, two disadvantaged people who are constantly jostling for an edge over the other. Later, circumstances force them to forget their games and rely on each other.
What fascinates me is how the story is told mostly from Carla's perspective, which is well captured by the very tight, claustrophobic framing by cinematographer Mathieu Vadepied and (like the more recent Australian film, 'Noise') the pops and squeals of her hearing aid.
Although billed as a thriller, I found that element somewhat incidental and relying on one too many coincidences to move the story along or tie up loose ends. The sub-plot involving Paul's probation officer Masson doesn't do anywhere. However, these petty issues don't materially impact on a very involving and sometimes tense film.
French with English subtitles.
4 out of 5 stars.
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