The Man in the Hat

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The Man in the Hat

2021

1h 35m

Comedy

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13 Reviews

84%

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50+ Ratings

The Man In The Hat sets off from Marseilles in a small Fiat 500. On the seat beside him is a framed photograph of an unknown woman. Behind him is a 2CV into which is squeezed Five Bald Men. Why are they chasing him? And how can he shake them off? As he travels North through France, he encounters razeteurs, women with stories to tell, bullfights, plenty of delicious food, a damp man, mechanics, nuns, a convention of Chrystallographers and much more. And always, on his tail, the Five Bald Men. Though largely silent, the film is interrupted by regular bursts of music, with new songs from Stephen Warbeck, Schubert Lieder sung by the incomparable Mark Padmore, Canteloube aria from the Cevennes, and Try a Lttle Tenderness, amongst others. As the Fiat 500 wends its way across the mountains, gorges and bridges of France, the 2CV hard behind him, the Thin Man (Ciaran Hinds) comes face to face with the vivid eccentricities of an old country on an old continent.

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Nell Minow

RogerEbert.com

The Man in the Hat sustains a whimsical tone beautifully throughout its brief running time, perhaps because co-writers/directors John-Paul Davidson and Stephen Warbeck add a touch of melancholy to keep it from becoming too cloying or cutesy.

Rated: 3.5/4

May 14, 2021

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Ellen E Jones

Guardian

It's a Francophile fantasy that may be too twee for some, but the French tourist board will surely be satisfied.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 17, 2020

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

The film is a tender and heartfelt reminder to appreciate the little things in life and to hold onto the special moments. It reminds us of how the smallest acts of kindness can effect someone’s life in a profound way.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 17, 2022

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Ruth Maramis

FlixChatter Film Blog

The French setting, the tiny Fiat 500 and Ciarn Hinds in a comedy appeals to me. Overall its a sweet, quirky road movie with a joyful music to accompany the entire ride.

Rated: 3.5/5

Feb 2, 2022

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James Croot

The Post NZ

Northern Irish actor Ciaran Hinds is an expressive delight as the eponymous l'homme au chapeau.

Rated: 3.5/5

Aug 30, 2021

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Jane Freebury

The Canberra Times (Australia)

A gentle picaresque adventure through rural France with a mute travel companion, it has impeccable comedic timing and a musical score that more than makes up for the silence

Rated: 3/5

Aug 20, 2021

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Ian K

Beautiful little film that is more like a poem. It invites you to pause and contemplate loss and love, grief and memories. The backdrop is a deliberately romantic view of a rural France that probably never existed, which prompts you to think about the validity of memory.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/14/25

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Suilven H

Perfect pace thought out the film the soundtrack adds the perfect touch. The lack of dialogue creates suspense and creates an atmosphere that involves all dialects.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/28/25

Full Review

Julie O

I felt immersed in this delightful film, it somehow is both subtle and a little slapstick, pottering alone in a little Fiat, in France , what's around the bend, beautiful scenery, chance meetings, possibilities, it's quite expressive and a somewhat charming journey. Loved the soundtrack.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/02/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Painfully slow, whimsical in that sickening way. No one talks in it. Barely any plot. Couldn’t finish

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/18/24

Full Review

babarizam D

Its a beautiful film. I only have one problem though, there is a song in the movie called "The little thing" Its not credit to any singer and part of soundtrack list which is strange. I think singer deserve the credit

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/15/24

Full Review

Rob W

I'm not exactly sure why, but I loved this movie!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/07/24

Full Review

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John-Paul Davidson

Director

Stephen Warbeck

Director

Ciarán Hinds

Actor

Stephen Dillane

Actor

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Actor

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The Man in the Hat: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

The Man In The Hat sets off from Marseilles in a small Fiat 500. On the seat beside him is a framed photograph of an unknown woman. Behind him is a 2CV into which is squeezed Five Bald Men. Why are they chasing him? And how can he shake them off? As he travels North through France, he encounters razeteurs, women with stories to tell, bullfights, plenty of delicious food, a damp man, mechanics, nuns, a convention of Chrystallographers and much more. And always, on his tail, the Five Bald Men. Though largely silent, the film is interrupted by regular bursts of music, with new songs from Stephen Warbeck, Schubert Lieder sung by the incomparable Mark Padmore, Canteloube aria from the Cevennes, and Try a Lttle Tenderness, amongst others. As the Fiat 500 wends its way across the mountains, gorges and bridges of France, the 2CV hard behind him, the Thin Man (Ciaran Hinds) comes face to face with the vivid eccentricities of an old country on an old continent.

Director: John-Paul Davidson, Stephen Warbeck
Producer: Daniel-Konrad Cooper, Dominic Dromgoole
Screenwriter: John-Paul Davidson, Stephen Warbeck
Distributor: Gravitas Ventures
Production Co: Rather Good Films, Open Palm Films
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 14, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 14, 2021
Runtime: 1h 35m

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