The Hairdresser's Husband (1990) Le mari de la coiffeuse (original title)

Director:

Patrice Leconte

Writers:

Claude Klotz
Patrice Leconte

Release Date:

3 October 1990 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

Twelve-year-old Antoine falls profoundly in love with a voluptuous but suicidal hairdresser, a formative experience he never forgets...

Plot Keywords:

Hairdresser | Love | Barber Shop | Barber | Marriage

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

Jean Rochefort	...	Antoine
Anna Galiena	...	Mathilde
Roland Bertin	...	Antoine's father
Maurice Chevit	...	Ambroise Dupré dit Isidore Agopian
Philippe Clévenot	...	Morvoisieux
Jacques Mathou	...	Julien Gora
Claude Aufaure	...	Gay Costomer
Albert Delpy	...	Donecker
Henry Hocking	...	Antoine - Age 12
Ticky Holgado	...	Morvoisieux Son-in-Law
Michèle Laroque	...	Adopted Child's Mother
Anne-Marie Pisani	...	Madame Shaeffer
Pierre Meyrand	...	Antoine's Brother
Yveline Ailhaud	...	Antoine's Mother
Julien Bukowski	...	Gloomy Man
Youssef Hamid	...	Tunisian Customer
Laurence Ragon	...	Madame Gora
Arlette Tephany	...	Antoine's Sister-in-Law
Christophe Pichon	...	Antoine's Brother Age - 12
Thomas Rochefort	...	Little Edouard

Directed by
Patrice Leconte

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Claude Klotz
Patrice Leconte

Produced by
Thierry de Ganay	....	producer
Monique Guerrier	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Michael Nyman

Cinematography by
Eduardo Serra

Film Editing by
Joëlle Hache

Casting by
Étienne Dhaene
Marie-Christine Lafosse
Natalie Luquiens

Production Design by
Ivan Maussion

Costume Design by
Cécile Magnan

Makeup Department
Judith Gayo	....	makeup artist
Christian Gruau	....	hair stylist
Jean-Christophe Roger	....	additional makeup artist

Production Management
Daniel Baschieri	....	unit manager
François Pulliat	....	trainee unit manager
Frédéric Sauvagnac	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marie Beaucheaud	....	second assistant director
Étienne Dhaene	....	assistant director
Eric Pierson	....	trainee assistant director

Art Department
Jacques Brizzio	....	first assistant decorator
Michel Charvaz	....	property master
Jean-Paul Gaillot	....	construction manager
Philippe Lacomblez	....	first assistant decorator
Bernard LaTouche	....	head construction grip
Victor Piazza	....	painter

Sound Department
Elisabeth Bernard	....	assistant sound editor
Denis Carquin	....	sound assistant
Jean Goudier	....	sound editor
Dominique Hennequin	....	sound mixer
Pierre Lenoir	....	sound
Alain Lévy	....	assistant foley editor
Jacques Lévy	....	synchronization
Jérôme Lévy	....	foley editor

Special Effects by
Philippe Hubin	....	special effects

Stunts
Gilles Conseil	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Eric Aupetit	....	grip
Benoît Barbier	....	still photographer
Patrick Camboulive	....	still photographer
Jean-François Drigeard	....	electrician
Christophe Dural	....	electrician
Bernard Estève	....	electrician
Patrick Gasché	....	electrician
François Hernandez	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Patrice Leconte	....	camera operator
Valerie Mathieu	....	second assistant camera
Philippe Pavans de Ceccatty	....	first assistant camera
Jean-Claude Reux	....	gaffer
Denis Scozzesi	....	key grip
Pierre Ventre	....	grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anne-Marie Drean	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Maryline Monthieux	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Patrick Boshart	....	location scout
Chantal Bégasse	....	production secretary
Marie-Noelle Hauville	....	production accountant
Valerie Mullon	....	production assistant
Maggie Perlado	....	script supervisor
Jean-Pierre Vincent	....	unit publicist

Production Companies

• Lambart Productions
• TF1 Films Production (co-production)
• Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC) (participation)
• Investimage 2 (with the support of)
• Investimage 3 (with the support of)

Distributors

• AMLF (1990) (France) (theatrical)
• Cor Koppies Filmverhuur (I) (1991) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2012) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Rosebud (1991) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Triton Pictures (1992) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Al!ve AG (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
• Alliance Home Video (1993) (Canada) (video)
• Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1991) (Greece) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Second Sight Films (2005) (UK) (DVD)
• Severin Films (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Tartan Video (2000) (UK) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (199?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Twin Pics (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Cinéart Collection)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2011) (Australia) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2011) (Australia) (video) (VOD)

Other Companies

• Relax-In International  some music courtesy of
• Transpalux  electrical equipment

Also Known As:

"Le mari de la coiffeuse" - France (original title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Chile:18 | Germany:12 (f) | Peru:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Finland:K-11 | Australia:M | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Barneville-Carteret, Manche, France

Company:

Lambart Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: When Mathilde shampoos the bearded customer, the hand holding the water sprayer changes between shots.

Quotes:

Mathilde:[Lettre:] Mon amour, je m'en vais avant que tu t'en ailles. Je m'en vais avant que tu ne me désires plus, parce que alors il ne nous restera que la tendresse et je sais que ça ne sera pas suffisant. Je m'en vais avant d'être malheureuse. Je m'en vais en apportant le goût de nos étreintes...

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Zomergasten: Episode #10.3" (1997)

Cutting Emotion.

This is quite the different "little" foreign film and I mean that in a good way. I hold foreign films in a different light from movies of North American mainstream cinema. While the foreign movies I've had the opportunity to view have been pretty consistent, I must admit -- I'm more picky and subjective when it comes to a foreign film. Why? I guess because they aren't in my language, they usually have very little star line and they are an calculated risk. Most turn out well, but I don't pretend they all are pure silk. I've seen a few I regret. Perhaps the view that foreign movies are generally of good quality comes from the fact that the general public is only exposed to foreign films of good quality. The comparison to "our" movies help too. Most people don't watch foreign cinema unless it's of the few hyped releases that have made the jump to American audiences. Unfortunately that's a pretty select group year after year.

The Hairdresser's Husband is not such a foreign film. It didn't make the language barrier jump which is unfortunate. It's well worth the watch for anyone not completed saturated by American movies and customs. The film is equal parts drama and comedy. It follows Antoine (Jean Rochefort) who as a little boy becomes infatuated with the local hairdresser almost like a secret boyhood crush. From that day on the love of a female hairdresser becomes part of his character. He grows up intent he will marry a hairdresser and hence the title -- "The Hairdresser's Husband". He's the kind of person you know will make no harm in the world. Even in adulthood in many respects he is still a child. His personality is such that you'd look at him and know what kind of person he is. He's searching for happiness.

He walks into a local hairdresser's shop and becomes mesmerized by Mathilde (Anna Galiena) the shop's hairdresser. She is beautiful and has a natural free flowing charm. Next thing he's getting his hair cut and inadvertently blurts out "Will you marry me?". General awkwardness follows. The next day, he comes back. Obviously not needing a cut. She tells him she heard what he said and the next thing they are together and they couldn't be more happier. Life suddenly has more depth and meaning. Like it's been in wait for this moment in time. They live in each others warmth.

"The Hairdresser's Husband" is a kind hearted film that isn't so much a story, but a character study carried out by talented performances and real emotions. Asking nothing of us but acceptance as it plays out. Although it is relatively brief, the short running time actually suits the material too. In an American movie, Antoine would have lost her somewhere in act two and had to battle to get her back from a person not deserving of her before having happiness again. They might have thrown in a subplot centering around their best friends too. That's the way Hollywood movies are. Thankfully there are no contrived plot points or useless characters thrown about here. It's all a tight package. It's sad seeing things ending up back at step one as shown at the start, but that does nothing to impact this foreign film I recommend to anyone with a sense of empathy.