Si j'étais toi

In THE SECRET, Ben (David Duchovny) and Hannah (Lili Taylor) are having problems with their teenage daughter Sam (Olivia Thirlby). The troubles escalate until Hannah and Sam are involved in a terrible automobile accident that leaves them both clinging to life. Tragically, Hannah succumbs to her injuries.

Later, Ben is confronted with the possibility that his wife has somehow transferred her consciousness into Sam's body.

This movie does a good job of exploring some of the bizarre, unsettling aspects of such a situation. Ms. Thirlby is very convincing as the daughter / mum, making her character fascinating. Duchovny is also believable in his bemused role...

I was browsing movies in Wal-Mart and came upon the movie. I saw that David Duchovny was in it and naturally wanted to buy it. I did so and went home and watched the film. I myself am in no way into movies where people switch bodies. Whether it is Freaky Friday, or Its a Boy Girl Thing, Transference movies do not interest me. This is nothing like those. They do not switch bodies, but yet the mothers soul seems to migrate into the daughters.

The story itself i really enjoyed. You have a daughter in her teens rejecting her mother because it is not cool, at times wishing she wasn't her mother. It is when the mother goes into the daughters body that the movie begins to take shape. It was not the performance by David, but yet the performance by Olivia Thirlby that blew me away. This being one of her first movies, i was extremely shocked. She plays the mother/daughter character absolutely amazingly and i was really astonished at the job she was doing.

I recommend this movie. As said before, i myself am not into transference movies, but this one really got to me. I really felt for the characters in this film, and thought it ended quite beautifully. I usually do not write reviews, but i saw this one did not have any, and thought that i would write my own. This may not be the best review, but i am new at it. Please see the movie. It is quite enjoyable for those who give it a try.

This movie turned out to be a total emotional roller coaster for me. I haven't cried so much for a long time. The combination of real life drama with fiction made the movie feel very spiritual and much deeper than most realistic dramas feel. Apart from the supernatural premise, the rest of the movie is very realistic and well acted. Duchovny's performance is excellent and I love the peaceful aura he always portrays. When it comes to Olivia all I can say is that her beauty and acting talent go hand in hand to create a heartbreakingly beautiful synergy. She strongly reminds me of Milla when she was younger. This film contains such a rich and complex artistic portrayal of some of the most beautiful and painful aspects of life that I'm tempted to consider it epic. I think this is a prime example that cinema is evolving in the right direction. Thank you so much for creating art like this.

Hiroshi Saitô's screenplay was reworked by Ann Cherkis to take place in America.

Hannah, the mom (Lili Taylor - "Six Feet Under") and her daughter Sam(Olivia Thirlby - Juno) are in a car accident and through some magic the soul of the mother is transferred to the daughter.

You can imagine the hilarity as Sam, who is now Hannah, but looks like Sam, returns to school as Sam (she is 16) and discovers that her daughter is smoking pot and having sex. Or, when she pops into her husband's office and sees him flirting with her guidance counselor.

Her husband/father (David Duchovny) doesn't know what to feel. He hers his wife, but sees his daughter. Now, that is messed up.

Thirlby was amazing in a dual role.

The ending was messed up.

I'm not entirely sure why most sites put this under the "Thrillers" genre rather than "drama", but I'm glad i saw it regardless.

Based on the 1998 book 'Himitsu' by Japanese writer Keigo Higashino, this is a heart-strings story with its fair share of humor. But it's definitely a tear-jerker, and a very good one at that. It was shot in Montreal (hence all the French names in the credits) but could be set anywhere in the States.

If you happen to really like Lili Taylor & David Duchovny as I do, then you're in for a treat. The young actress is also wonderful and holds her own against these two veterans. I was relieved that they did not cross the line in this version (you'll know what i mean when you watch the film); it would have cheapened the film and changed the whole message and dynamic.

All in all, a film worth watching.

~NN