The Hairdresser's Husband (1990)

Antoine has always been fascinated with a hairdresser's delicate touch, the beguiling perfume and the figure of a woman with an opulent bosom, moreover, he knew that he would marry one, fulfilling his dream of a perfect and idealised love.

Director:

Patrice Leconte

Writers:

Claude Klotz, Patrice Leconte

Stars:

Jean Rochefort, Anna Galiena, Roland Bertin

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

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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 A. Sheaffer
Pierre Meyrand	...	Antoine's Brother
Yveline Ailhaud	...	Antoine's Mother
Julien Bukowski	...	Gloomy Man

Storyline

Twelve-year-old Antoine falls profoundly in love with a voluptuous but suicidal hairdresser, a formative experience he never forgets. Much later in life, he seeks to repeat his romance by marrying Mathilde - also voluptuous and also a hairdresser - with whom he forms an intimate and consuming relationship in an attempt to blot out the miseries of this world from their lives.

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Plot Keywords:

hairdresser | love | barber | barber shop | nonlinear timeline | 

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Taglines:

A Glorious Realisation Of Too Perfect Love And A Tingling Examination Of Sensuality.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French Arabic

Release Date:

3 October 1990 (France)

Also Known As:

The Hairdresser's Husband

Filming Locations:

Studios 91 Arpajon, Saint-Germain-les-Arpajon, Essonne, France

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,155,800

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lambart Productions,TF1 Films Production,Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film is included on Roger Ebert's "Great Movies" list.

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Goofs

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

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Quotes

Mathilde: [Letter:] "My love, I'm going before you do. I am going before your desire dies... Then we'd be left with affection alone, and I know that won't be enough... I'm going before I grow unhappy... I go bearing the taste of our embraces, your smell, your look, your kisses... I go with the memory of my loveliest years, the ones you gave me... I kiss you now, so tenderly I'll die of it... I have always loved you... I have loved only you... I'm going so you never forget me... Mathilde."

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Crazy Credits

Mille Baisers à Paco, Elle Sait Pourquoi.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Batman Returns/Cold Heaven/Housesitter/Cousin Bobby/The Hairdresser's Husband (1992)

User Reviews

A View into the Depths of Love

This film is an artistic, sensitive, and very sensual portrayal of two people who fall in love. Part of the joy is watching their clearly-etched characters mesh and blend. This is done so well that no one could believe they are lovers off screen. We ride along with them, and remember our feelings of longing for love, realizing love, and finally, hoping never to lose it. Some people are disappointed with the end, though for anyone who has ever been in love and finds that passion, completely realized, has no where to go but into sadness and loss, this movie works. When one has achieved perfect bliss, the only thing that can follow would be disappointment and, ultimately, death.