Mortal Transfer

Mortel Transfert (also known as Mortal Transfer)^[2] is a 2001 thriller film written and directed by Jean-Jacques Beineix, adapted from the novel of the same name by Jean-Pierre Gattégno. The music was provided by Reinhardt Wagner, the composer of Roselyne and the Lions.^[3] It was Beineix's final theatrical film before his death.^[4]

Mortel Transfert
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Jean-Jacques Beineix
Written by	Jean-Jacques Beineix
Based on	Mortel Transfert by Jean-Pierre Gattégno
Produced by	Reinhard Kloos
Starring	Jean-Hugues Anglade Hélène de Fougerolles
Cinematography	Benoît Delhomme
Edited by	Yves Deschamps Kako Kelber
Music by	Reinhardt Wagner
Distributed by	UGC Fox Distribution
Release date	10 January 2001 (2001-01-10)
Running time	122 minutes
Countries	France Germany
Language	French
Budget	$8.1 million
Box office	$2 million[1]

Plot

A psychoanalyst is conversing with one of his patients and dozes off while she is talking. When he wakes up, she is lying dead on the couch, forcing him to dispose of her body without getting seen. Moreover, her husband suspects her of stealing money from him.

Cast

• Jean-Hugues Anglade as Michel Durand
• Hélène de Fougerolles as Olga Kubler
• Miki Manojlovic as Erostrate
• Valentina Sauca as Hélène Maier
• Robert Hirsch as Armand Slibovic
• Yves Rénier as Max Kubler
• Catherine Mouchet as The professor of maths
• Denis Podalydès as Commissioner Chapireau
• Riton Liebman as The disc-jockey
• Laurent Bateau as The young depressive man

Release

The film was screened in the Panorama section at the 51st Berlin International Film Festival.^[5]

Reception

Benny Crick of Screen International described the film as "a disappointingly minor excursion into black comedy-cum-psycho-thriller territory."^[6] He added, "Taken at its most undemanding level of entertainment, the film's macabre farce and its cast of eccentrics are mildly amusing, but Beineix is unable to fuse the story's psychoanalytical trappings and the clunky graveside humour."^[6] Lisa Nesselson of Variety stated, "By modern standards, helmer's visual approach no longer seems so fresh and daring, but the level of craft is still unmistakable, and wintry streets with convincing fake snow contribute to the chilly atmosphere."^[7]