The Hairdresser’s Husband, directed by Patrice Leconte, running time: 81’, 1990
Set in a small French town, this extraordinary film is a story about a strange relationship between two people. Antoine (Jean Rochefort) falls in love with the local hairdresser, Mathilde (Anna Galiena), a beautiful and mysterious woman. It would not be strange had it not been for the fact that his fixation with female hairdressers began at a young age, which manifested in his frequent visits to the hairdresser’s salon. The two create their own intimate and enigmatic world. In one of the scenes Antoine says, ”we did not have any friends, we never needed any . . . we had ourselves.” In this fairy tale-like story, director Patrice Leconte raises a question whether it is possible to live the entire life in this way; whether living the illusion and committing oneself to one’s own microcosmos can give perfect happiness. Leconte specializes in charming, romantic and moving films, like his “Girl on the Bride.” It is the same with “The Hairdresser's Husband,” which is imbued with this distinctive atmosphere and style of this director.