"Simenon was fascinated by peculiarities of human personality, which he described in elegant, simple prose, not unlike Leconte's controlled visual style here."-Roger Ebert

Monsieur Hire's life is ordered and circumscribed. He enjoys observing people and imagining their lives, especially the beautiful woman living across from him. His neighbors dislike him, and in turn, watch him. As does a policeman, who may suspect him of killing a young woman. Beautifully shot in muted colors, the disquieting, sensual Monsieur Hire explores the depth of feeling of a solitary man. And, as it is based on a Simenon novel, things inevitably aren't what they seem.