Review of Je sens le beat qui monte en moi (2012) by Byron B — 22 Apr 2013

I saw this French and Belgian short at the 2013 Cleveland International Film Fest. Its English title was given as Beauty and the Beat. This was hilarious! Rosalba Torres Guerrero, who I would compare to Fanny Brice in appearance and comic skill, is a woman who cannot stop her body from dancing to any music she hears.

This is embarrassing to her and leads to some difficulties in pursuing a normal life. She works as a tour guide and avoids as many destinations with regular music as possible. It is an impossible task.

From classical to hip-hop it is all around us. Alain (Serge Bozon) is the driver of a VW bus, who often works with Rosalba. He loves '60s classic rock, grooving out to that funky beat, and is trying to work up the courage to ask Rosalba out.

With her condition she has difficulty with relationships, but eventually awkwardly consents to a date. There is a weird dream sequence in the middle that I did not completely understand, but... You will laugh throughout.

You will get caught up in the romantic plot.