Corona Cork Film Festival

Léon is a lonely man who has no occupation and no contact with anybody. His life revolves around his ailing mother; his only distraction is snooping on his neighbours. He eavesdrops on their conversations and goes through their mail. When he goes outside he observes people in cafes and train stations. When his mother dies he turns his attention to his new neighbour, an perky Spanish woman called Dolores.

Like a limpet he discreetely attaches himself to her. Wherever she goes he is there watching and listening, an anonymous figure in the crowd. He soon builds a complete picture of her, compiling a dossier of her triumphs and failures, until he knows everything about her. Just when it looks like Dolores’ luck can’t get any worse she has an accident. Eventually, Dolores will discover that there is someone who has become her shadow.

Where traditionally the voyeur is a figure of menace Michael Abiteboul delivers such a weightless performance of chameleon-like brilliance that he elicits sympathy even as he raise questions about his true intentions. Rebollo’s direction is equal to his protagonist’s unobtrusive nature. If we shudder at Léon it’s because at times we see things through his eyes.