TELL NO ONE (Ne Le Dis A Personne)
(Language: French, with English subtitles; Running Time: 125 min; Not Rated)
Reviewed by Denise Castillón
TELL NO ONE artfully weaves a romantic love story with a complex suspense thriller. With characters and clues thrown like fast balls, it’s a challenge to keep up with the plot, but well worth the effort.
Actor-turned-director Guillaume Canet was drawn to the strong, offbeat characters of Harlan Coben’s bestselling novel, TELL NO ONE. In adapting this intricate story for film with his writing partner, Philippe Lefebvre, Canet masterfully controls the darkness of this thriller from overshadowing its romantic tone.
Happily-married childhood sweethearts, Margot and Alex, are assaulted as they celebrate their anniversary at the lake, where they summered as children.
Now eight years later, widowed Alex is still grieving for his wife. Although a serial killer was convicted for his wife’s death, the discovery of two buried bodies on the lakeside property, prompt the police to re-investigate her murder. Once again, the police look at Alex, her husband, as the natural suspect. Alex decides to do his own investigating after he receives a mysterious e-mail with an attached live video feed showing his wife alive and well.
Representing two generations, this remarkable cast delivers exceptional performances. What more proof that there are indeed more than three top actors in France worth watching by foreign film-going audiences. Francois Cluzet (Alex) skillfully conveys the restrained hero’s emotions with just a glance from his expressive eyes. Cluzet is supported by Marie-Josee Croze, Andre Dussollier, Kristin Scott-Thomas, Francois Berleand and Marina Hands.