GRADE: A

The seductive use of sound and camera work in French director Jacques Audiard’s ''Read My Lips'' easily transports viewers into the mind of the seemingly invisible-- and partially deaf-- Carla Bhem (Emmanuelle Devos).

An underpaid, overworked secretary, Carla’s co-workers regard her as an unfeeling robot who has no life, no aspirations... someone they can easily take advantage of and manipulate. Coffee cups find their way onto her desk, spilling pools of dark liquid over her important papers. Accounts find their way into her hands, only to be taken away once the work is finished, the commission check looming just out of reach.

It is on this last so-called trouble spot that Carla employs the help of her new secretarial assistant, Paul Angeli (Vincent Cassel, ''Birthday Girl''), a just paroled ex-thief whom she hired half because she pitied him, half because she found his greasy hair, inherent shyness and bad boy persona somewhat appealing.

The two strike up a strange relationship: She uses him to get her account back from the slimy exec who stole it, he asks her to help him rob the robbers to whom he’s in debt. You see Carla-- thick hearing aids hidden beneath her thin, unkempt hair-- can read lips.

Audiard uses Carla's unique ability to craft an intriguing story of a lost, lonely woman whose disability-- up until now-- kept her locked inside her own world. As she and Paul grow closer, she begins to experience life again, to feel desire, anger, fear, exhilaration… a flower blooming in fast forward.

Best of all, Audiard weaves his film around these two very different characters, letting the story progress as their relationship does. It’s rare to find a film that concentrates so heavily on solid character development, yet boasts a well-written, entertaining script on par with such under-the-table tales as ''Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.'' In short... it’s worth reading the subtitles.



Recommended:
Yes