The Beat That My Heart Skipped

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The Beat That My Heart Skipped

2005

1h 47m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

100 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Tom Seyr (Romain Duris), a violent thug with a heart, grows weary of cracking heads for his smarmy, mediocre gangster father, Robert (Niels Arestrup), and longs for a chance at something else. A fortuitous encounter prompts Tom to renew his classical piano playing, like his mother before him, and he begins to study with piano teacher Miao Lin (Linh Dan Pham). But when he starts a passionate affair with Aline (Aure Atika), the wife of one of his cronies, his new happiness may be short-lived.

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Critics Consensus

Stylish and visceral, this able remake is infused with realism, grit, and a taut performance by star Romain Duris.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Niels Arestrup is striking as the hero's slumlord father.

Apr 7, 2010

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

[Duris] is pure star quality: gloweringly sexy, hypnotically unstable and needy, combining rage and vulnerability in his handsome, delicate face.

Jan 27, 2007

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Philip Kemp

Sight & Sound

Altogether, Audiard's movie hangs together better than Toback's: it's more coherent in its construction, far less arbitrary in its dialogue, and more plausible and considered in its characterisation.

Sep 28, 2006

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Frank J. Avella

The Contending

The Beat That My Heart Skipped is a showcase for the incredibly talented Duris, who gained worldwide recognition for his mesmerizing work.

Rated: B+

Oct 21, 2025

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

[Jacques] Audiard gives it all an edgy volatility as the world of small-time hustles and under-the-table scams comes back with a vicious sting.

Dec 7, 2024

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Paul Dale

The List

Duris is phenomenal in the lead role -- a good-looking wire ball of tightly-wound ill temper -- as are the rest of the cast.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 26, 2019

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 47 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $1,000,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy 20th anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/22/25

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Audience Member

Wow! (That's French for Wow!) Romain Duris is magnifique.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

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Audience Member

Compelling film of a thug who shockingly is spending his spare time attempting to become a concert pianist; but one can only fall so far from the tree

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

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Audience Member

I like this movie very much!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

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Audience Member

Great directing great cast

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/23/17

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Audience Member

Jacques Audiard's fourth full-lenght. His fifth, "A Prophet" gave him true recognition but his earlier efforts is also of excellent quality. We meet Tom. A man that's a semi-crook and mostly does violent one time jobs for a living. He's helping out his just as crooked father sometimes, or he is helping out his friends - for business or when they need cover for cheating sessions. He is not a happy man, but playing the piano seem to uplift him a bit. He never plays it as much as he really wants to, but he is changing this during the film, as he takes up lessons. Never a dull moment, great pace and some neat shots and scenes. Great acting and a very decent crime drama, with some mild action and thrilling moments. 7.5 out of 10 rats.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

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Jacques Audiard

Director

Romain Duris

Tom

Niels Arestrup

Robert

Linh Dan Pham

Miao Lin

Aure Atika

Aline

Emmanuelle Devos

Chris

The Doom Generation

55%

62%

The Doom Generation

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96%

89%

A Prophet

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Time to Leave

74%

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89%

86%

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Synopsis

Tom Seyr (Romain Duris), a violent thug with a heart, grows weary of cracking heads for his smarmy, mediocre gangster father, Robert (Niels Arestrup), and longs for a chance at something else. A fortuitous encounter prompts Tom to renew his classical piano playing, like his mother before him, and he begins to study with piano teacher Miao Lin (Linh Dan Pham). But when he starts a passionate affair with Aline (Aure Atika), the wife of one of his cronies, his new happiness may be short-lived.

Director: Jacques Audiard
Producer: Pascal Caucheteux
Screenwriter: Jacques Audiard, Tonino Benacquista
Distributor: Wellspring Media
Production Co: Why Not Productions
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 1, 2005, Original
Release Date (DVD): Nov 22, 2005
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.0M
Runtime: 1h 47m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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