Overview
A determined woman finds herself entangled with a charming thief, leading to unexpected consequences.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- brooding
- sensual
- paranoid
- late night viewing
- arthouse film night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Jacques Audiard's tense, psychologically nuanced French crime drama for its inventive sound design, compelling performances, and unusual blend of romance and suspense.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Carla's hearing deficiency and lip-reading ability structure how she gathers information and perceives criminal activity.
Hardworking secretary Carla joins forces with Paul, a handsome ex-convict and thief, despite their radically different histories.
Carla's hearing impairment initially marks her isolation but her lip-reading skills become crucial to her independence and the plot.
The film places workplace frustration, criminality, and an unlikely romance inside a grounded French character drama.
Films like Read My Lips, and why
The Beat That My Heart Skipped
French crime thriller combining damaged outsiders, criminality, intimacy, and morally ambiguous partnership
A Prophet
French neo-noir atmosphere, tense criminal underworld, and emotionally complicated alliance
The Secret in Their Eyes
Stylish crime drama centered on an unexpected partnership and restrained romantic tension
Movie Details
- Director
- Jacques Audiard
- Release Date
- 2001-10-17
- Runtime
- 115 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (385)
Cast
- Vincent Cassel
- Emmanuelle Devos
- Olivier Gourmet
- Olivier Perrier
- Olivia Bonamy
- Bernard Alane
- Céline Samie
- Pierre Diot
- François Loriquet
- Serge Onteniente
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Criterion Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Read My Lips about?
- A frustrated hearing-impaired secretary finds dangerous purpose and unexpected intimacy beside a charming ex-convict thief.
- What is Read My Lips like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Read My Lips as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Read My Lips violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Read My Lips as moderate.
- What did critics think of Read My Lips?
- Critics broadly praised Jacques Audiard's tense, psychologically nuanced French crime drama for its inventive sound design, compelling performances, and unusual blend of romance and suspense.
- Which films are like Read My Lips?
- Films with a similar feel include The Beat That My Heart Skipped, A Prophet, and The Secret in Their Eyes.
- How long is Read My Lips?
- Read My Lips runs 115 minutes.
- Where can I watch Read My Lips?
- In United States, Read My Lips streams on Criterion Channel.
