340. The Man In The Hat; movie review
THE MAN IN THE HAT
Cert 12A
95 mins
BBFC advice: Contains moderate sex references, suicide references
Oh, how we have missed our holidays in 2020.
In recent years, we have enjoyed meandering off the beaten track in Europe to the type of beautiful villages which are the backdrop of The Man In the Hat.
John-Paul Davidson and Stephen Warbeck's movie is a whimsy starring Ciaran Hinds who barely utters a word throughout its 95 minutes.
Indeed, dialogue is at a premium in this leisurely-paced comedy which has echoes of old-fashioned farces while having a dab of romance.
The unnamed title character, played by Hinds, is first seen eating a meal at a quiet harbourside restaurant when he sees five men, who appear to be gangsters, dumping what seems to be a body into the water.
He fears that they have identified him as a witness and makes a hasty exit in a tiny Fiat with a framed photograph of an unknown woman.
They pursue him in their Citroen Dyane, thwarted whenever they get near in scenes reminiscent of the silent movies.
He drives through mountains, down gorges and across bridges - a picture postcard of France - and encounters mysterious people such as The Damp Man (Stephen Dillane), The Chef (Muna Otara) and The Biker (Maiwenn).
And not an enormous amount happens as he comes across village celebrations and is even mistaken as a celebrity.
The Man In The Hat is strange, eccentric and at times rather lovely. It lifted my spirits during lockdown but I would certainly accept that it will be rather too offbeat for some.
Reasons to watch: The beautiful French countryside
Reasons to avoid: A tad too whimsical
Laughs: Thee
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 6/10
The final word. Stephen Warbeck: "I’m a big fan of the French mime artist, actor and filmmaker, Jacques Tati, who was a major inspiration for the early image of The Man in the Hat (originally called The Thin Man). Many would say Jour de Fête is Tati’s best work. In his film, the main character is a postman on a bicycle and has similar traits or qualities with our Man in the Hat." Flickering Myth
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