Retrospective Review: Ciarán Hinds is 'The Man in the Hat'

Ciarán Hinds, Stephen Dillane, Maïwenn. Dir. John-Paul Davidson, Stephen Warbeck.

★★★★★

If you haven't already, 'The Man in the Hat' is the must-see, feel-good film of the year.

While it's already had a UK release last year in September, 'The Man in the Hat' has had distribution secured in North America by Gravitas Ventures, and will be in theatres and VOD from May 14th; so now seems as good a time as any to revisit this absolute gem of cinema.

The film is a journey of hope, a beautifully crafted odyssey, of one man and his car, in search of a lost soul mate perhaps, a single photo that sits on the passenger seat. The film is an opus of beautiful music, story-telling and silent comedy to the ever moving backdrop of the breath-taking landscapes of France.

The Man in the Hat journeys through France in a Fiat 500 accompanied by a framed photograph of an unknown woman. He is pursued by five angry men in a Citroën Dyane. Why are they chasing him? And how can he shake them off?

We follow The Man in the Hat (Ciarán Hinds, First Man, Games of Thrones, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) as he journeys through France in a Fiat 500; while the film and indeed The Man in the Hat is mostly silent, Ciarán delivers one the best performances of his career, as we take in the journey around him with his expressions of wonder and bewilderment.

The story is more than a journey, it is a chase, albeit a slow one, where some of the humour is derived as the titular hat-wearer makes good on his escape from his pursuers across the mountains, gorges and bridges. Along the way he hears stories of love and loss, while listening to Otis Redding and Canteloube. With each encounter, there is a theme that speaks of hope, that presses him ever forwards.

Of these encounters we meet mysterious strangers through the man in the hat's journey, including The Damp Man (Stephen Dillane, Game of Thrones, Darkest Hour), The Chef (Muna Otaru, TV’s Broken, The Keeping Room) and The Biker (Maïwenn, Polisse, Pardonnez-moi), and many more, no matter how eccentric, decent, or casual each one is, they in turn make their choices and take their own journey of hope.

The film is written and directed by Oscar-winning composer Stephen Warbeck (Shakespeare in Love, Billy Elliott) and John-Paul Davidson (Brazil with Michael Palin, Stephen Fry in America), in what has to be the most refreshing and innovative near-silent movie experience committed to film in a long time. The film is a wondrous blend of stunning music, cinematic visuals, a postcard for the beautiful sun-kissed landscapes of France, you wish you were there.

The only disappointment is not of the film itself, only that it hasn't been recognised by the Academy Awards this year in any capacity. Of any film that was more deserving of a nod, 'The Man in the Hat' was one.