Hand of the Headless Man

Eva, a 25-year-old woman, is an Olympic diver: a champion. Her father, Peter, is her coach. During a competition, Eva climbs up to the 10-meter platform. She leaps off when suddenly she sees a shadow in the pool. Terrified by this vision, Eva suddenly loses her balance, her head hits the diving board, and she falls. Blackout. When Eva regains consciousness, she is in the hospital. Naturally, her father is at her bedside. For him, the accident is already in the past: the Olympic Games are approaching, and it is essential not to miss the qualifiers. But Eva doesn't see it that way. The accident has changed her and her life. While she was in a coma, her brother disappeared. So she decides to force her memory to remember, to break through the wall of silence her father has built around her. Eva will emerge from this experience deeply shaken. So will her family, and nothing will ever be the same again.

Directed by Guillaume Malandrin, Hand of the Headless Man leans on a strong ensemble — Cécile de France, Ulrich Tukur, Bouli Lanners — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about thriller titles of 2007.