Mean Spirit

2003 1h 30m FR

💀

4.1

SKIP

★4.1TMDB · 55

Comedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Vincent Poirel, a multinational executive, has won the contract to build an Olympic stadium. The original design, however, was by young architect Simon Variot. When he discovers it, he goes to the construction site and is run over by Poirel. Simon dies, but is resurrected in the body of Poirel's son, who doesn't understand why the little boy hates him so much.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Thierry Lhermitte
Vincent Porel
Ophélie Winter
Chrystèle
Clémentine Célarié
Beatrice
Maria Pacôme
Belle-maman
Michel Muller
Simon Variot
Leonor Watling
Leonor
François Levantal
Freddy
Thaïs Alessandrin
Petite fille

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Patrick Alessandrin
Writers: Laurent Chouchan, Laurent Chouchan, Laurent Chouchan
Languages: Cantonese, French, Polish
Countries: France, Spain

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

90 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 23 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: Cantonese, French, Polish.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: France, Spain.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Patrick Alessandrin, shot by Javier Aguirresarobe. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Loïc Dury. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Yann Malcor shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Thierry Lhermitte and Ophélie Winter and Clémentine Célarié carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Patrick Alessandrin directs. Javier Aguirresarobe behind the camera. Loïc Dury scores. Yann Malcor cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in France, Spain. Dialogue in Cantonese, French, Polish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

190 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Released 23 years ago.
3Dialogue crosses 3 languages: Cantonese, French, Polish.
4International production across 2 countries: France, Spain.
5Directed by Patrick Alessandrin, shot by Javier Aguirresarobe. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Loïc Dury. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Yann Malcor shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Thierry Lhermitte and Ophélie Winter and Clémentine Célarié carry the top of the cast.
9IMDB entry: tt0337674 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 55 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
11Released under 14 different titles around the world.