Watch The Moustache For Free

Sorry, this movie sucks

I wanted to but couldn't!

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

French author Emmanuel Carrère's sole venture into feature filmmaking by far, LA MOUSTACHE is adapted from his own novel published in 1986, a head-scratching story about a middle-aged French man Marc (Lindon), whose life starts to collapse after he shaved his trademark moustache on a whim, and everyone around starts to behave that they have never seen him in moustache, including his wife Agnès (Devos).So, under this presumption, there could be two possible explanations: either Agnès is right, so Marc must have some serious psychological issues should be treated with kid gloves; or, Agnès is lying, when having dinner at their friends', Agnès is accused as an incorrigible liar by her ex- boyfriend Serge (Amalric), which might insinuate that an underhand conspiracy theory is in the pipeline. Cinematically, it is rather an intriguing premise, however, in hindsight, as the film turns out to be an experiment completely open to each individual's own interpretation, Carrère knowingly oscillates between these two scenarios lest the plot would veer to either direction with no turning back.Take the example of the photo albums Marc finds, it is a trip to Bali years ago and obviously he is sporting a moustache in every picture, but, instead of pushing forward his proofs to Agnès or his friends, he chooses to withhold it until the album goes missing, if that's a slip of mind, later we clearly see his moustache in both the head-shots in his wallets and his passport, why not show them to contest his belief, or just visit his parents, who should know the truth, but no, because, it would channel the story into a dead-end, either Agnès is right or she is playing a bigger game to dupe him, either way, it would lose the mystical allure.So, out of wits to keep the suspense rolling, Carrère employs a brisk geographical shift to Hong Kong, where Marc aimlessly and tediously moseys on ferry rides, an economical transportation in a metropolitan city (which might be used to save a fair amount of cost in shooting whilst the crew could enjoy their vacation), so as to buy some time to let his moustache grow back, then, bang! Surreal events materialise again, and viewers have no sooner recovered from the bamboozling revelation than the film reaches its succinct finish line, admittedly, it is an in-your-face anticlimax.Masked as an existential fable, LA MOUSTACHE intrigues at first, but pretty soon loses its sway and resorts to absurd-ism and metaphysics, which could be an alternative to lift the bar, like Denis Villeneuve did in ENEMY (2013), but in this case, it only betrays the filmmaker's incompetence to concoct up anything could possibly give a plausible justification, a cheap cop-out always tastes bitter and gets under one's skin.

Marc and Agnes are lovers who have been together for a while. They are comfortable with one another, and yet, there seems to be an undercurrent of frustration in the way they interact with each other. As the story begins, they are preparing to go out to a dinner with friends. Agnes has forgotten something. Marc seen in the bathroom, where he decides to shave his mustache. His new look is ignored by Agnes, as well as the couple they visit. Marc's new look is ignored by all, giving him a rare sense of reality. He even gets pictures taken years before where he clearly shows the mustache in question. Marc is clearly puzzled by a turn of events that make him doubt about things he has taken for granted. He begins to question himself, his relationship, his world, fleeing from it all. Marc takes refuge in the anonymous atmosphere of Hong Kong where he spends a day riding the ferries across Victoria's Harbor in search for answers. He finds some kind of peace in a humble pension in Lantau's island that has memories of a happier time for him, as well as Agnes.Directed by Emmanuel Carrere, based on his own novel, who adapted it for the cinema with Jerome Beaujour. The film poses a lot of interesting questions which are not easily answered in the film, which will throw off some viewers for the many questions raised but not answered. Like most intellectual French filmmakers, Mr. Carrere wants the audience reach its own conclusions. There are clues along the way that might be interpreted in different fashion by different viewers. What the director gets is an absorbing film in the tradition of Michael Haneke's "Cache" and other films that require involvement. Be prepared to do some thinking.Vincent Lindon's work is the main reason for watching "La moustache". He was at his best in this fantastic account of a man's quest to find out the truth about himself and his relationship with Agnes. The actor does a credible job with his Marc, making us care about this man. Emmanuelle Devos gives a good performance as Agnes, who also plays a complex role in the story. The two stars show good chemistry in their take of their characters. Patrick Blossier's excellent cinematography works wonders in the film, as well as Philip Glass' 'Concert for Violin' enhances the mood created by Mr. Carrere.

Well it starts out innocently enough and then we are thrown back and forth back and forth with each point verifying itself leaving the viewer saying yes, I agree only to have the same viewer say, no I don't agree. Then,you ask, which one is it? This style of story can be compelling and entertaining but risks losing the viewer at the end if they are not pleased...That potential exists here. It is definitely a discussion film, but has obvious points that once mentioned have no further value. It is that ending that causes one to say...what is going on here? There is a subtle clue or two, but I needed input from a sensitive commenter to find closure because the director will not help you here...I was engrossed all the way through, so no problem there...but that ending well its like a five course meal and you only got 4 courses. Your full, but you paid for five courses...enjoy this movie because this is only my opinion I am sharing. You will definitely have yours and so will others..

Because I'm about to tell you you've been had, like someone swindled by a two-bit fortune-teller.Before I explain why, let me start by saying that it did not bother me that this film didn't resolve itself. I've watched some pretty challenging and experimental films that leave a LOT hanging, and I love them! Try El Topo sometime. There are more mainstream ones too like Naked Lunch, or Brazil. These films do not have nice tidy plot lines where everything makes sense -- they are still brilliant films.The difference in the case of "La Moustache" is that while this film also happens to lack nice tidy plot lines, the film-makers seemed to think that that, all by itself, makes this film brilliant too.I have never before seen a film that was so elitist, so vapid, and so disrespectful of its audience in assuming it is more clever than they are. The really sad thing is that, judging from reviews here, and even many professional reviews, the film succeeded in pulling the wool over many peoples' eyes.Who the hell am I to say these things? Well I watched this film with a professional artist, and man with a PhD in comparative literature (who did extensive work in film studies). And you can probably tell from my writing, I'm no dummy either.And the three of us were in total agreement: This film is like an inside joke whose punch line doesn't make sense, and yet everyone, maybe for fear of appearing not to "get it" starts nodding and laughing nervously.Why is everyone doing this? Because the punch line SEEMS like it should make sense. We want it to make sense. There are all kinds of symbols and portentous happenings that are vaguely related to one another in some way or another -- like tarot cards sitting on the table. Stare at them long enough, and squint, and suddenly you can see "the answer".But your subconscious is really just inventing whatever story it likes, and omitting any details that didn't fit. The movie is not smarter than you are. It is a bunch of seemingly "deep" events that strut around like a Chinese emperor in his newest outfit. (Psst, he's naked!)As a film maker, if you're going to make a film that doesn't tie things together neatly, then you need to realize you have an obligation to make your film about SOMETHING more meaningful than the incongruous events you are showing on the screen.Naked lunch was about the visions of a writer who is losing his mind. Brazil was about how dreams are powerful enough to transcend even a post-apocalyptic nightmare of a future.This film is not about ANYTHING, except how you can make your audience follow a carrot on the end of a string, just by editing together a lot of scenes with great acting, great direction, and high production values that don't actually make any sense.It's apparently what happens when you take a neat starting idea (a man shaves off his mustache, and everyone seems not to notice, then they claim he never had one), and then you become more interested in making yourself look clever than in actually telling a story that bears some relevance on our lives.Very, very sad, or the French would say: Pathétique.