Watch Monsieur Hire

Monsieur Hire is a French thriller-drama film from 1989, directed by Patrice Leconte and starring Michel Blanc, Sandrine Bonnaire, and Luc Thuillier. The film is based on the book Les Fiançailles de M. Hire by Georges Simenon. The movie tells the story of Monsieur Hire, an oddball recluse with a quiet demeanor who lives above a used-books store in a small town in France.

The film begins with a young girl who is found murdered, and everyone in the town is eager to find the culprit. Through the eyes of the investigating police officer, we see the townspeople's suspicion immediately fall on Hire, who is seen as an outsider because of his eccentric personality and is often judged for his lifestyle choices.

Hire works as a tailor, and his only real social interaction seems to be with Alice (Bonnaire), a beautiful young woman who lives in the same building. Alice is aware of Hire's interest in her and plays along with his fantasies, but she is interested in another man who is more her age, and that leads her to involve Hire in a twisted game to find out if the man she wants will ever like her.

Despite his reclusive ways, Hire is a complex character with a rich inner life, and Michel Blanc delivers an incredible performance that manages to convey the depths of his character's loneliness, paranoia, and despair. As the film progresses, we're given glimpses into the mind of Hire, who is at once kind-hearted and pitiable, yet also possessive and manipulative.

The cinematography of Monsieur Hire is striking, with the camera often focusing on the faces of its characters as they contemplate their own desires and motivations, allowing the audience to read between the lines of the dialogue. The town itself is often shown as dull and gray, with the shots contrasted against the vibrant colors in Hire's apartment.

The film builds to a climax that is both suspenseful and poignant, as the mysteries of the various characters’ pasts are revealed, and we start to understand the motivations behind their actions. The murder mystery gradually fades from the background, making way for character drama that carries the film to its conclusion.

The narrative structure of Monsieur Hire is unique in that it tells a story that intersects with the murder investigation but is more about the internal emotional states of the characters. It is a character-driven film that explores the themes of loneliness, voyeurism, love and obsession. It's about people living in isolation and the extent to which they can connect with each other.

The film is set in post-war France, and the cinematography and production design do an excellent job of recreating the era's atmosphere. The film's themes are also still relevant today, as they touch on the struggle to connect with others in a world that can be isolating and alienating.

Monsieur Hire is a slow-burning and haunting film, anchored by Michel Blanc's excellent and engrossing performance. The film is a testament to the power of European cinema and is essential viewing for fans of the genre. It's a character-driven drama filled with suspense, tragedy and the subtleties of human emotion; a truly compelling piece of cinema that will resonate with viewers long after the final credits roll.

Monsieur Hire is a 1989 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 21 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5.