What makes movies great? Good direction, creative writing, solid acting are all necessary attributes. But I would argue that interesting, original characters separate average films from those that stand out. A strong character can carry an otherwise ho-hum story to heights of grandeur. If a script is fortunate enough to contain more than one memorable character, then the sky is the limit. But all it takes is one dynamic role in the hands of a dedicated actor to make a film shine. Count The Beat That My Heart Skipped as a movie made special thanks to one great character and outstanding performance by its lead actor.

Thomas Seyr (Romain Duris) leads a double life. He works as an enforcer for a real-estate firm that specializes in shady and corrupt deals. But in his spare time he plays piano, a skill he shared with his deceased mother, who was a concert pianist. Thomas is charming, temperamental and sensitive. He loves his father deeply, but has grown tired of his scheming ways. He’s also in love with his partner’s wife, which further complicates his already hectic existence. When Thomas is given a chance to change his life he seizes it by dedicating himself to the piano. Soon his two worlds collide and he must choose between the path of his father or the one his mother took. Success means leaving his violent past behind. Failure means continuing down the road to self-destruction.

“Hands” are symbolic throughout the film. Thomas’ hands represent his personal dichotomy. The same hardened and scarred hands used to beat a scumbag debtor are also capable of creating beautiful music. Thomas struggles to calm his hands, to soften their touch, to transform them from fierce weapons to delicate instruments. By allowing music to guide him he is able to release the passion inside that yearns to escape after years of laying dormant. He quells his violent tendencies and exchanges the role of fighter for that of a lover, a romantic who feels compassion and desires companionship. However, the reality of the person he has been cannot be forgotten. Below the surface is a burning rage that will never die. Thomas’ greatest challenge is keeping the rage from regaining control over him.

Romain Duris is an absolute marvel to behold. His performance is unpredictable and evocative. He captures the intensity of the character precisely without a hint of reluctance. Rarely do you see an actor embody a role with such emotion, but Duris nails every facet of Thomas. It is an eye-opening portrayal for certain. Director Jacques Audiard paints a dark, almost dystopic canvas filled with foreboding shadows. You root for Thomas, but while doing so are painfully aware nothing comes easy for him. Audiard makes sure of that by planting well-placed pitfalls throughout the story which represent trials that Thomas must endure. They serve as a reminder that possessing the will to change one’s life is often not enough to ensure success. Everyone has a past and it has a way of revealing itself at the least opportune times. The Beat That My Heart Skipped is a unique film experience that proves great characters can equal great films.

The trailer for The Beat That My Heart Skipped:

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