Watch Heartbeat Detector

Heartbeat Detector is a French-language film directed by Nicolas Klotz and released in 2007. It belongs to the drama genre and explores themes of memory, identity, and corporate responsibility. The movie tells the story of Simon Kessler, a psychologist who works for a human resources firm called SC Farb. Simon is tasked with investigating the mental health of the company's top executives to ensure they are fit to lead. As he conducts his research, he becomes increasingly disturbed by the memories and experiences he unearths, and begins to question not only the company but also his own past.

At the same time, SC Farb is facing accusations of using forced labor during World War II, and Simon's investigations reveal a connection between the company's present-day practices and its dark past. His probing uncovers lies and deception, putting him in a dangerous position where he is unsure who he can trust.

The film's cast is led by Mathieu Amalric, who portrays Simon with a brooding intensity that hints at the character's inner turmoil. Amalric is best known for his work in French cinema, having won the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for his performance in The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. In Heartbeat Detector, he is joined by Michael Lonsdale, a veteran actor known for his roles in films such as The Name of the Rose; and Edith Scob, who plays Simon's mother and has appeared in a number of classic French cinema classics including Francois Truffaut's Jules et Jim.

Heartbeat Detector is a visually striking film, with a subdued color palette that creates an oppressive, sterile atmosphere. The cinematography is precise and deliberate, with each shot carefully composed to convey a sense of unease and disorientation. The film's score is equally unsettling, with an ominous, pulsing electronic score that adds to the sense of dread.

The movie also employs a number of experimental techniques, including jump cuts and overlapping dialogue, giving the film an impressionistic quality that heightens its sense of dislocation. The film's structure is non-linear, with flashbacks and hallucinatory sequences that blur the line between memory and reality.

At its heart, Heartbeat Detector is a film about the cost of corporate greed and the ways in which our actions can have consequences that reverberate across time. It is a dark and unsettling exploration of the human psyche, showing how the past can haunt us and shape our present. The film's title, Heartbeat Detector, refers to a device used by Simon to measure the physical reactions of his subjects, but also serves as a metaphor for the way in which the film itself probes at the heart of its characters, exposing their vulnerabilities and moral failings.

Overall, Heartbeat Detector is a challenging, thought-provoking film that rewards careful attention from its viewers. Its themes are weighty, and its storytelling is complex, but the film is ultimately a rewarding journey into the darkest corners of the corporate world and the human soul.