10 Little-Known Movies That You Must Watch In 2015

6. The Beat That My Heart Skipped

The Beat That My Heart Skipped is a film that plays with the sensitive bad boy archetype, but the writing and lead performance from Romain Duris elevates it far above just a simple trope. The French film from 2005 is about a young man who works for his gangster father as something of an "enforcer", but after a chance encounter with his deceased mother's agent he is compelled to take up classical piano, a hobby that he loved and showed promise in when he was younger. To prepare for an audition with the agent, he hires a conservatory student to help him relearn the piano, but it isn't long before his criminal lifestyle and his musical passion start pulling him in two different directions. The film's success is entirely on the shoulders of Romain Duris's captivating performance, as he manages to avoid cliches in portraying both the character's rage and vulnerability. You might like The Beat That My Heart Skipped if: you're a sucker for movies about the healing power of music, or if you're a fan of Romain Duris (which should seriously be just about everyone because is amazing). Check out Populaire while you're at it, which also stars Duris and has the vibe of Mad Men meets Pushing Daisies.