The Beat That My Heart Skipped is a remake of 1978 American film Fingers, but reversed– The film brings a debt collector to piano rather than the other way around. As you can imagine, the reversal completely changes how the plot feels. It’s not great that the mom here is dead, but this choice makes Tom’s dream of piano playing more of a question and more of a subconscious character desire that drives the whole film. The change also makes the action more visceral– the film makes Tom have no choice but to start out with the violence, which, of course, leads to consequences later in the film. And on top of this, the film also adds more interest to the romance, as the language barrier pushes the connection to be bridged by music rather than words. So, sure, The Beat That My Heart Skipped is a remake, but the changes make the neo-noir a bit more original and a bit more compelling.
Synopsis
A ruthless real estate agent discovers a passion for piano and auditions with help from a young virtuoso, but the pressures of his corrupt career threaten to derail his musical aspirations.
Storyline
Growing weary of crime under his gangster father Robert, violent thug and real-estate broker Tom Seyr longs for a chance at something else, prompting him to resume his study of classical piano with his teacher Miao Lin.
TLDR
May we all get to shift our lives for more happier and fulfilling paths.
What stands out
Romain Duris. This wouldn’t have worked without his being able to juggle both the pianist and the gangster.
