MovieChat Forums > De battre mon coeur s'est arrêté (2005) Discussion > whats sad about him...

whats sad about him...

posted 18 years ago by Evilfeeshy-1
20 replies | jump to latest

Whats so sad about his character is not just his internal struggle between the thug life of his father and the artistic life of his mother, but that he is actually an untalented musician. Sure, he might have had some good points, but in the end, he doesnt have the presence to perform nor the ability, and his teacher does. He becomes her manager which is something good in a way, he takes the right road in the end, and when he sees the chance to go down the path of thug life, he rejects it and lets the Russian live. What's really tragic to me though is his real lack of talent. It's sad.

[–] RioRep 18 years ago

I think what is said is the way he lived before he allowed the music back in his life. Even though he couldn´t become a pianist he seems to be doing much better with his new life. And even enjoying the presentation of his girlfriend or wife at the end. I don´t see anything sad about it.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] skuhmm 18 years ago

Actually I didn't feel the ending was exactly a "happy" one. For once, the fact that the attacked the Russian mafioso shows that he still has that violent, sordid side of him inside. Then, I think after beating such a poweful and dangerous person, I think he's risking it all. Typically the Russian guy will seek revenge... Maybe I misunderstood the film's ending, but I didn't feel like it was a happy end at all.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] KMPINTJ 18 years ago

Also, it was ironic how he and his new (Chinese) wife have assumed the roles of his own parents--she a concert pianist and he still wheeling and dealing and encountering thugs. On it goes...

[–] claudia_dobre 18 years ago

I don't think he didn't have enough talent, on the contrary. His mother's former friend seemed to be an upright and honest person,his interest in him was genuine and so was his surprise on seeing him. He didn't offer him an audition and then an employment offer out of politeness, he could have said "how are you now, did you get married" instead or something. He did remember someone with great talent who somehow, at some point, had disappeared. Tom simply cannot perform any more, some vital power to focus and believe, probably, I don't know what, was lost in the process of making money the tough way...maybe there is a moral to it after all, a fundamental incompatibility. Maybe his teacher has no problem in succeeding not because she has more talent, but simply because her integrity as a person is still there..I guess.

[–] doctorrugger 18 years ago

Was Thomas talented or not ?
Well, he seems to be an honourable pianist, possibly a superior one, but maybe he doesn't have the inner quality expected from a professionnal performer. That's one of the interesting aspects of the film : we are sympathizing with the heroe, we are wanting with all our heart that he becomes a pianist, in order to leave his thuggish life. Unfortunately, this is not an american entertainment movie ; there is no happy ending . One of the strength of the film is that it shows that the effort toward brightness can be worthwhile even if not totally crowned by success.

[–] kixie-poo 17 years ago

Yeah, I agree. I think he had great talent, but (either through his experiences or maybe it's just his personality) he seemed too intense and restless to go all the way as a professional pianist. I kind of thought that at the end, when it really came to the audition, all the fire and energy in him burnt him out.

On the other had Miao Lin has the patience, perseverance, self-discipline and stillness that allowed her to take it to the top.

What I thought was great is that although Tom didn't make it in the end he didn't just go back to that thuggish life and waste the rest of his days burning with disappointment or anger that he failed... at least he was able to take the skills that he did have and go with it, being Miao Lin's manager and everything.

And he didn't kill Minskov! Which I thought was a great scene to show that he was gradually redeeming himself.

I don't think the ending was happy, but it wasn't sad either. It simply had the suggestion of things getting better from then. It might not go smooth like how we'd like, but the chance is there.

Looks like breakfast, smells like your auntie!

[–] bcndahous 17 years ago

I don't know if it was a sad ending or happy one. I don't think it can be categorized that simply.

The ending was abrupt and skipped 2 years worth of life from the rest of the plot. This left many questions and "head-scratching" moments. There is no telling if Tom's wife is still tutoring Tom or not. Perhaps Tom still has aspirations to also become a pro pianist.

I like the comparison made by another poster about how Tom and his wife fill the roles of Tom's parents (female is a pianist and male is a manager/thug/"pimp"). Very nice observation!
>The entire film deals with Tom running into the crossroads of his life. DOes he continue in his mom's path of righteousness and art or his dad's black path of destitution and loneliness???

[–] safin1 17 years ago

Do you want to know what is really sad? The amount of people who come on these boards, and start slagging off a FICTIONAL CHARACTER because they're apparantly not playing the piano properly.

You're all going to die! Don't you realise? Can't you see?
http://gaspardgroupie.livejournal.com/

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] cornelia123 17 years ago

I think he had great talent. The reason he didn't do well in the audition was because of his selfish father who used him as his thug.

The last scene where his wife is playing the piano and he is breathing in the beauty and tranquility of the notes is a nod to the audience that his return to music is his return to the womb, to his true being and I suppose his chinese wife represents that too.

[–] withnail69 17 years ago

might want to add "spoiler" in the title next time

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] lastknown 17 years ago

Sad? You must be a wet vagina.

There's nothing untalented of him. There's no such thing as talent, exactly, and nothing in this picture proposes there is.

[–] user1684 17 years ago

I didn't see him as not having talent nor did I see him as leading a life of a "thug".

He and his associates were in the real estate business and provided a valuable service for their clients. The real "thugs" seemed to be city hall and the statutes that would allow a family to claim quasi-title to an apartment or flat by merely occupying it for 48 consecutive hours. Whether the squatters had legally fulfilled the terms for adverse possession was not clear hence the dispute and the attempt at forceful eviction.
He and his associates merely used methods that they considered to be effective, to convince the tenants to vacate the premises and allow Thomas' clients to assume possession of the property that they rightfully held title to. Hardly a thug.

He was talented enough to have a teacher from the Peking Conservatory take him on as a student, and not laugh at him and show him the door. He was just a bit rusty and reallly not serious enough about practicing to perform well at an audition. Practice makes perfect.

It seemd he was torn between his budding career in real estate, the field his father had choose, and his dreams to be a concert pianist like his mom. "Should I follow in mom's footsteps or dad's?"

Inasmuch as his father's real estate career, and partner choices ended in his early demise, Thomas may have made the correct decision in entering the music industry as opposed to real estate.

[–] lastknown 17 years ago

He was not only "rusty" on the piano, but eclectic in his musical taste. He is a student of classic pieces, but "groves to" edgy, heterodox music in private. There is aggressively more to the this film than a narrowminded, universal encapsulation of right and wrong, good and bad, skilled and unskilled. I thought that apparent.

[–] user1684 17 years ago

I agree. I really liked this film and the character in it with all of his good points and bad points.

I passed in on to some French friends of mine from France and they didn't like the film nor the guy.

And you are right about a lot going on.

Not killing the guy at the end made the whole film for me. A little like Bill Murray not sleeping with the bored housewife he met in Tokyo in Lost in Translation. If he had killed the guy or if Bill Murray had had sex with the chick I would have shrugged.....and said okay I guess so.

Am I making any sense?

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] gregoryapplebee 10 years ago

If you're pointing such things out, you got the movie wrong my friend. What's interesting and the point of the movie is about is his inner struggle to (inherit the artistic talents from his mother's side, as you mentioned) become the artist that he had so long neglected himself of becoming. Rather I found his talent to be more raw and passionate more than the chinese woman's. Although he is not refined nor possess a flourishing technique, it's the artistic fire within him that is trying to express his life situations and overcome his limitations that are well notice, which the Chinese pianist clearly does not possess. The technique can be achieved, yet this whole-person artistic side is something unattainable. And plus, dood the guy probably didn't go through formal training and it's nearly impossible to become a concert pianist at his age. So dumbo trying to act smart, don't go off topic okay?