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The Moustache

Play trailer Poster for The Moustache 2005 1h 26m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
86% Tomatometer 43 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Marc Thiriez (Vincent Lindon) is an architect who's worn a mustache for many years. Now approaching middle age, he decides to shave it off, naturally expecting others to notice. But when his wife, Agnes (Emmanuelle Devos), ignores the change, he's perturbed. When he asks why, she insists that he hasn't had a mustache for years. When he confronts other friends and colleagues about it, they too tell the same story. As Marc grows increasingly paranoid, his loved ones consider having him committed.
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The Moustache

The Moustache

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Critics Consensus

Though the premise may be modest on the surface, Carrere uses a man and his mustache that may or may not exist as a springboard into psychological suspense and unsettling questions.

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Critics Reviews

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John Monaghan Detroit Free Press What the movie lacks visually, it makes up for with the performances, especially by Lindon, who leads us on a journey we want to stick with even if we can't fully understand. Rated: 3/4 Nov 3, 2006 Full Review Stephen Hunter Washington Post In one sense it's what might be called 'typically French,' an exquisitely observed fable of bourgeois life that is mordant, witty and yet low-key. In another sense, it's what might be called 'nuts.' Nov 2, 2006 Full Review Michael Phillips Chicago Tribune An absorbing riddle posed in cool, matter-of-fact tones. Rated: 3/4 Sep 28, 2006 Full Review Felicia Feaster Creative Loafing Adapted from a novel by first-time director Carrére, the film retains a literary quality in playing with our faith in the conventions of storytelling and in its sly, understated surrealism. Jan 29, 2020 Full Review A.S. Hamrah Boston Phoenix Carrère shows how a minor change can make the world a different place, how it disappears under our feet without our noticing, how glimpses into little truths can make the people around us seem hostile and ultimately drive us mad. Rated: 3/4 Jul 6, 2010 Full Review Eric Monder Film Journal International Those looking for a good thriller should be pleased enough and those seeking a serious art film will get plenty of philosophy with their pretty pictures. Mar 1, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member I'm French and can't stand these pretentious type of French movies. It was a boring, pseudo intellectual film. That's 2 hours I'll never get back!! Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review kirby p Absolutely terrible movie. Watch the interview in the bonus features to see the director explain how important it was to film stuff that didn't go into the movie so the actors knew what was going on. He also points out that he cannot explain the movie because he himself doesn't understand it. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member 5.6/10, my review: http://wp.me/p1eXom-2ql Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Audience Member Strange and intriguing. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Marc shaves his mustache and with it, he goes to the other side of the mirror, where his world becomes strange. I'm not repeating the story here, see other reviews for this. I want to add that what is strange is that Marc has clear evidence that his wife and his two closest friends are lying and he becomes deeply shaken. In my view, these three characters are the people he loves the most and their lies are hurting him. Behind strong allures, he his vulnerable because of the love he has. He is not a psychopath, basically. However, his wife and friends, whether it is a joke or a sinister way to push him into depression and suicide, appears to be psychopathic. I think this is the main point of the movie. In the end, Marc escapes without leaving clues to them but they find him before he sends them an adieu, maybe a final adieu to the world or a new beginning without them. Once found, and his wife and friends now acting normally, he gets rid of the unsent token or last adieu, too happy to get back into the cosy feelings of love....that may not really exist because of their psychopathy. This film appears to be idiotic at first but asks deep questions about the value of life, love, friendship. It marks philosophical points. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Interesting film with existential (and thus deterministic) themes, collapse of a relationship similar to Contempt (perhaps something to do with the nature of French relationships), but also with a complete inescapable nature, a feeling of being trapped with a brief moment of being free and a master of your destiny, he must ask her permission to shave the moustache. The woman appears to represent fate, an unreasonable kafkaesque fate... Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Moustache

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Cast & Crew

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Emmanuel Carrère

Director

Vincent Lindon

Marc Thiriez

Emmanuelle Devos

Agnès Thiriez

Mathieu Amalric

Serge Schaeffer

Hippolyte Girardot

Bruno

Cylia Malki

Samira

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The Moustache

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Movie Info

Synopsis Marc Thiriez (Vincent Lindon) is an architect who's worn a mustache for many years. Now approaching middle age, he decides to shave it off, naturally expecting others to notice. But when his wife, Agnes (Emmanuelle Devos), ignores the change, he's perturbed. When he asks why, she insists that he hasn't had a mustache for years. When he confronts other friends and colleagues about it, they too tell the same story. As Marc grows increasingly paranoid, his loved ones consider having him committed.
Director
Emmanuel Carrère
Producer
Anne-Dominique Toussaint
Screenwriter
Jérôme Beaujour, Emmanuel Carrère
Production Co
Les Films des Tournelles
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Chinese
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 1, 2016
Runtime
1h 26m
Sound Mix
Dolby
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