La Moustache

The much-anticipated film La Moustache is now playing on French screens. Based on the novel by Emmanuel Carrère, with a scenario by Emmanuel Carrère (and Jérôme Beaujour) and directed by the multitalented Emmanuel Carrère, the film has a fascinating premise: a man who has had a mustache for years shaves it off, and no one notices, not even his wife, close friends and colleagues.

At the beginning of the film, the spectator feels a delightful sensation of suspense: how will this conundrum be resolved? Is Marc (played the excellent Vincent Lindon) going crazy, as his wife believes, or are his wife and friends all involved in a bizarre and complicated plot against him?

Disappointingly, the question is never answered. Instead, we are left to ponder the meaning of reality as the main characters suddenly take off from Paris to Hong Kong, which makes for some wonderful visuals but seems to have no real relevance to the story.

Perhaps those who have read Carrère’s novel or seen The Mustache, the English-language play based on it, will have a clearer idea of what it’s all about.

Otherwise, the film is a pleasure to watch, with good acting – Emmanuelle Devos plays Marc’s wife, and although she has some annoying traits, she is a fine actress – and music by Philip Glass that even non-fans of the composer will enjoy.