La Moustache

Recently, a friend of mine linked me to his movie blog. His rule is that he writes at least a sentence about every movie (and TV show?) that he watches. This is the type of project that I enjoy: seeing someone else geek out over something they love. To understand more of what I mean, see his newest project.

I enjoy a good indie or foreign film and I have seen a lot of movies that most other people never do. In fact, the common saying around my house is that if I'm watching it, everyone else will probably find it boring or stupid. Of course, this usually goes both ways and I actually take it as a compliment. However, compared to John I'm but a mere dilettante in the world of cinema. I spent last weekend with him at EDoG, a board game convention, in Erie, PA. Four hours there and four hours back and I realized that I really have missed out on a lot of great films.

So, in an effort to ameliorate this fact, I think that I'm going to get back to watching a lot more movies and a lot less TV shows. In this vein, I've decided to resurrect this blog as a way to help me chronicle my thoughts and ideas.

Additionally, I'll probably write about the books I'm reading as well.

La Moustache (2005)

"What stops me from taking myself seriously, even though I'm essentially a serious person, is that I find myself extremely ridiculous - not in the sense of the small-scale ridiculousness that seems intrinsic to human life and that manifests itself in the simplest actions and most ordinary gestures. For example, I can never shave without starting to laugh; it seems so idiotic. But all of this is very difficult to explain." - Gustave Flaubert

Before I started watching La Moustache I tried to think back to the last French film that I really enjoyed and quickly became stuck.  I went on a Godard binge back in college and every once in a while still love to sit down and watch Breathless or Bande à part.  However, I have found a lot of the French films that I've seen recently to be a bit tedious - with the possible exception of Amélie.  However, after watching La Moustache I'm convinced that I've just not been exposed to the right French films.

I went into this movie knowing very little of the premise behind it.  The first few minutes had me wondering if this was going to be another one of those movies that a friend of mine really likes and respects, but that I just don't get.  However, by the scene when Vincent Lindon (who is crazy looking in a weird stoic way and played the character perfectly) reveals his fully shaven face to his wife in the mirror, I was ready for a good movie.  This scene was simple but watching Lindon's face go from amused to subtly confused to curious was great.  What makes this scene even better, in my opinion, is that it sets a light and amusing mood.  I mean, how absurd is it that she does not say anything about the missing moustache?  Is she playing a joke?  We are right there with Lindon while he wonders.

Of course, this mood quickly changes and the film begins to become a wonderful exploration of the loss of identity and conflict in relationships.  How do we change our identity for our partners?  What happens when we need each other to validate ourselves?  How is conflict viewed from within and by each other?

The couple argues and things get more confusing for them and for the viewers.  There are so many changes throughout the film that as soon as you start to think "this" might be what is going on, "that" makes you doubt it.  By the time the couple goes to dinner and the wife, played by Emmanuelle Devos - who, in my opinion, exudes sex and intelligence and confusion and uncertainty in almost every scene - says that it "all tastes odd," it is quite clear that no answers will be forthcoming and that you should just sit back and enjoy the ride.  It is a ride that will eventually travel to Hong Kong in another confusing but awesome sequence involving a lot of ferry riding.

I'm still amazed at what this film accomplishes without ever employing any sort of gimmicks that would do nothing but cheapen it.  La Moustache is a surreal film that I'll probably watch over and over again.  Maybe I won't ever come to a complete understanding of it, but I'll enjoy the confusion and the questioning every time.