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Vincent Lindon, Emmanuelle Devos, Mathieu Amalric, Hippolyte Girardot, Cylia Malki ... see more see more... , Masha Polikarpova , Teresa Li , Yuen Hei Poon , Denis Menochet , Fantine Camus , Franck Richard , Macha Polikarpova , Brigitte Bémol , Frédéric Imberty

"What would you think if I shaved my moustache?" asks Marc (Vincent Lindon) of his wife, Agnès (Emmanuelle Devos), one fateful night as they prepare to visit friends for dinner. She's never seen him w... read more read more...ithout it, but while she goes to do some last-minute shopping, he impulsively shaves the moustache off. Thus begins a tragic odyssey that leads Marc to question every relationship in his life, and even his own identity. Marc's journey into darkness begins when Agnès returns home. At first, he playfully tries to conceal what he's done. When he finally reveals his bare face to her, with a flourish, her reaction is...nonexistent. She baffles him by appearing not to notice the change. Confused, he says nothing, and they proceed with their plans for the evening. When the couple's friends Serge (Mathieu Amalric) and Nadia (Macha Polikarpova) also fail to make note of the change in Marc's appearance, he begins to get angry, believing that Agnès is playing an elaborate prank on him. In the car on the way home, he loses his temper, and it's her turn to be baffled. What moustache? How can she have noticed that he shaved his moustache when he's never had one? While Agnès begins to question her husband's sanity, Marc frantically searches for evidence of his former facial hair. Things only get worse for Marc, as no one at his job remembers him having a moustache either, and before long, he discovers that there are other details of his life that only he remembers. The Moustache marks the directorial debut of Emmanuel Carrère, who adapted his own novel with Jérôme Beaujour (She's One of Us). The film was shown as part of The Film Society of Lincoln Center's 2006 Rendez-Vous with French Cinema. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

Flixster Users

63% liked it

3,947 ratings

Critics

85% liked it

41 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 26 min.

Directed by: Emmanuel Carrère

Release Date: October 7, 2005

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DVD Release Date: January 16, 2007

Stats: 353 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (353)


  • fb1144932598
    December 28, 2010
    fb1144932598
    This proved to be a strange film that did not tip its hand for this viewer until the end. Marc (Vincent Lindon) shaves his mustache and sets off a sequence of events that leaves him, and this viewer, wondering whether he is going insane, the butt of an elaborate joke, or somethin... read moreg more sinister. His wife, Agnes (Emmanuelle Devos), grows increasingly concerned, as it is her contention is that he has never had a mustache, while he believes that he has had it for ages. The back and forth dialog, and the increasing frustration that Marc experiences is what drives this film. It is dark comedy and French to the core. The two leads are excellent at portraying the conflicting emotions, and the supporting cast is strong. The scenery in and around Paris sets the mood and the director keeps a steady hand on the way the story is presented. Having had a mustache for many years only increased the pleasure that this film brought to this viewer as he could totally relate to the sense of bewilderment that Marc experienced.
  • May 29, 2006
    [font=Century Gothic]In "La Moustache", Marc(Vincent Lindon) and Agnes(Emmanuelle Devos) are a successful couple living in Paris. One day Agnes comments that she would not recognize Marc without his mustache. On a whim, he does shave it off. Later, she does not notice anything ha... read mores changed. In fact, when pressed for a response, she claims he never had a mustache. Nobody else can remember Marc having had one either...[/font]

    [font=Century Gothic]"La Moustache" is an engrossing psychological drama with an unexpected resolution. The movie is anchored by a great performance from Vincent Lindon as someone who is wondering if he is losing his mind. [/font]
  • fb511192930
    August 15, 2011
    fb511192930
    What a horrible thing to go through, I questioned if the character Marc was going through the beginning stages of alzheimer's disease because of his lack of memory that never synced up with his wife's. "You didn't even notice I shaved my moustache" "you have not had a moustache i... read moren the 15 years I have known you."
  • August 15, 2008
    Doesn't have to make sense to be absurdly French.
  • April 28, 2007
    Intriguing premise, strong perf. hold for most of running time.
  • April 5, 2010
    the story for this movie was written by the director; I suspect it was a very short story that he attempted to stretch into a feature film. The acting by both leads are strong; the glaring weakness about stories such as these is the fact its nonsensical and without any reason. ... read morePlot holes aside, the burning questions that bubble up from this type of story go unanswered...but hey thats a french movie lol. This film plays out like a enlongated 'Twilight Zone' episode, where the ending is abruptly cut off a minute or two before its conclusion. Sorry folks, no answers to this one heh. Even Emmanuelle Devos said as much in the short feature included on the dvd; she had no idea what the deal was with the mustache angle, and the director never gave an answer to it. Its an interesting watch..
  • March 3, 2008
    On first impression you think this film is going to be a delightful comedy. Think again. Some parts are funny but it really goes from bad to worse when this guy shaves off his "moustache" and no one notices.
  • August 2, 2010
    Brilliant. Perfectly paced psychological thriller with an amazing central image. The "rosebud"? A mustache, or the absence thereof. This film leaves you wondering are we really here or is it just a dream?
  • March 25, 2010
    One of these brilliant movies were you never really know what reality each scene is part of. Very un-settling and intriguing.
  • August 17, 2009
    Feb 09 - Interesting idea but I think the writer and director had a hard time figuring out how to turn it into a long movie with a decent ending and I don't thing they were quite successful in doing so.

Critic Reviews


John Monaghan
November 3, 2006
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. Full Review

Stephen Hunter
November 2, 2006
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.' Full Review

Colin Covert
September 28, 2006
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

A shuddery, enigmatic study in psychological suspense. Full Review

Michael Phillips
September 28, 2006
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

An absorbing riddle posed in cool, matter-of-fact tones. Full Review

Ruthe Stein
September 22, 2006
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle

I found it mesmerizing from beginning to end. Full Review

Steven Rea
September 1, 2006
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

An intriguing study of identity, marriage and, perhaps, madness.

Wesley Morris
August 25, 2006
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe

Leaps from a gripping identity thriller into a strange yet equally involving adventure about the bounds of self-knowledge and the incredible liberty of disregarding them. Full Review

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
August 13, 2006
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

An elegantly acted psychological puzzle, it's like watching a nervous breakdown from the inside out. Full Review

Amy Biancolli
August 4, 2006
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

Spins an agitated mystery well beyond its minimalist starting point, offering up giant questions about sanity and identity on its trip from the bathroom mirror. Full Review

Kevin Thomas
July 7, 2006
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

A deliciously unsettling, beautifully sustained enigma, a film of much beauty and flawless performances, especially from Vincent Lindon in one of his most demanding roles. Full Review

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