The Hairdresser's Husband

The Hairdresser's Husband is a French dramatic comedy released in 1990, uniquely blending realism with whimsical fantasization. Directed by Patrice Leconte, this film stars revered actor Jean Rochefort opposite the captivating Anna Galiena. Jean Rochefort plays Antoine, a middle-aged man obsessed with hairdressers, and Anna Galiena is Mathilde, a hairdresser who captures his heart. The film also features Roland Bertin in a supporting role.

The Hairdresser's Husband is a heartwarming yet eccentric chronicle of Antoine's life. As a child, he spends much of his time in a local hair salon where he is enamored with not only the intimate ritual of hair cutting, but also with the hairstylist. Propelled by this childhood fascination, Antoine nurtures an extraordinary dream - to marry a hairdresser when he grows up.

Fast forward several years, Antoine, now in his fifties, stumbles upon a salon, and is instantly smitten with the owner Mathilde. Antoine's character is portrayed as a man of simple pleasures, and Mathilde, with her caring demeanor and the charmingly mundane routine of her salon, embodies the essence of his lifelong obsession.

The film explores this rather unconventional love story as Antoine finally realizes his unusual aspiration. Mathilde’s salon becomes their shared world - a peculiar paradise variably mesmeric, comedic, and melancholic. Her clients add to the tapestry of daily life, each with their own idiosyncrasies and stories, creating an elaborative background for this love tale.

The story unfolds in an episodic fashion, capturing the simple joy and repetitive rhythms of married life. The couple finds beauty and happiness in seemingly ordinary routines, day after day. Their shared existence in the salon illuminates the profoundity of companionship, and of finding joy in the quotidian. The film plays off the dichotomy between the vastness of Antoine's dream and the claustrophobic setting of the salon, subtly hinting towards the contradictions of desire and reality.

There is also a layer of surrealism woven into the story, with Antoine often breaking the fourth wall, or the narrative following dream-like sequences, all adding to the mystery of their seemingly simplistic lives. The passion Antoine has for Mathilde isn't limited to the romantic sphere – it reveals his lingering fixation with hairdressing.

Director Leconte successfully manages to combine seemingly ordinary elements to construct a narrative that is anything but usual. The Hairdresser's Husband is all at once an eccentric love story, a nostalgic dive into the protagonist's past, and a whimsical depiction of his life’s passion.

The film uses color and music ingeniously to augment the narrative and enhance mood. Passionate middle-eastern music often fills Mathilde's salon coupled with the warm hues from the golden lights that spill over the salon mirrors. The heightened reality within the cinematic setting aligns with Antoine's perspective, making it effectively immersive.

The performances by Jean Rochefort and Anna Galiena stand out. Rochefort, with his distinguished persona and impeccable comic timing, gives depth to Antoine’s character. He plays a man of many facets, from being the mischievous child fascinated by hairdressing, to being the curious and often declarative lover. Galiena as Mathilde successfully caters to his obsession and her conformity to Antoine's dream makes their relationship intriguing. The chemistry between the actors is palpable and carries the film, making their unusual love story strangely believable.

The Hairdresser's Husband is a celebration of small pleasures in life - the daily ritual of a cut and trim, the sensorial satisfaction of hairstyling, and the banter of a local hair salon. It paints an intriguing picture of a man embracing his quirky passion and the woman who indulges him, wrapped in the garment of a sensitive love story. It's a cinematic journey that takes you through the aesthetics of everyday life, love, and longing.

For lovers of foreign films, ones drawn to character-driven narratives, or those who appreciate a thoughtful exploration of human desires, The Hairdresser's Husband is unmissable. This film presents an elegant, thoughtful, and sometimes comic commentary on life, love, and the simplicity of everyday routines, wrapped in a distinctive narrative that leaves a lasting impression.