THE MAN IN THE HAT

UK, 2020, 95 minutes, Colour.

Ciaran Hinds, Stephen Dillane, Sasha Hails, Maiwenn, Muna Otaru.

Directed by John Paul Davidson, Stephen Warbeck.

Jacques Tati. His name came up frequently while watching The Man in the Hat. And then the rush to include his name in a review so that this response would be original rather than suggested by other reviewers! (And, then checking the bloggers on the IMDb, there were, in fact, four who named Tati.) Two other names came to mind while watching, Elia Sulieman and the adventures of the eccentric characters in his film, and a touch of Wes Anderson. (Other bloggers did not name these two but came up with Chaplin, Keaton, Bunuel.) So, the aim of this paragraph is to indicate to lovers of arthouse movies, small-budget independent films, why they might enjoy this one!

And the question arises: have you have dreamt of getting in a car, leaving from Marseille, driving through the French countryside, back roads across rivers and bridges, up into the hills, out into the fields, up into the mountains and the small villages? Well, this film offers something of an opportunity as we sit in our chairs and live the trip vicariously. We are in the company of a central character who has not been given a name except The Man in the Hat. His played by veteran Irish actor Ciaran Hinds, versatile in so many films over the decades. We really know nothing about him though there are various suggestions, touches of flashback, imagination.

Actually, there is a bit of a panic about his trip into the mountains, having witnessed a group of rather sinister -looking men throwing what looks like a wrapped body into the water, he being a witness. And, they keep turning up on the roads, in cafes, in garages, which keeps the Man in the Hat busily moving on.

As with Tatithe storytelling is in mime and performance, body language, rather than words (the Man in the Hat utters two or three throughout the whole film), the main words coming from our and his overhearing some conversations and stories. Tati always was a touch awkward in his manner and bearing, the Man in the Hat is less stiff but nonetheless often awkward.

And entertainment is also in the range of people he meets in the mountains, an attractive woman on a bike, a character named in the credits as The Damp Man who seemed to this reviewer The Forlorn Man, and he looked a bit like Stephen Dillane (and, in the credits, so he was). He has quite a story, sitting under a bridge, getting wet, on a park bench, in a restaurant and feeling suicidal, encounter with a jolly chef… And a number of incidental characters including some traffic wardens who spend the time measuring roads, heights, gaps, with a tape measure (and gradually getting closer to each other).

The opposite of a blockbuster, cowritten and directed by John Paul Davidson (who has a long career behind him with television) and Oscar-winning composer, Stephen Warbeck, who also contributes a frequently jaunty score for this entertainment.

1. The title? The central character? His adventures? Anonymous? Age, journey, body language, few words?
2. The style of the film, echoes of Jacques Tati, character and body language, situations, the light comic touch, minimal dialogue? The musical score (composed by the co-director)?
3. The French settings, Marseille, the waterfront, out into the hills, southern France, the mountains, the villages, the roads, rivers, bridges? The feel of the countryside?
4. The Man, the sardines, the restaurant, the men with the wrapped package, into the water? The Man escaping, his car, driving out the countryside? The continued encountering with the group in the car? The humour of their being musicians, wrapping the instruments? Their performance?
5. The Man on the bridge, the Damp Man under the bridge, his feet wet, catching the Hat, offering it, no words? his recurring throughout this story, getting the lift, at the hotel, at the meal, his being ignored, the attempts to shoot himself, the shot in the roof and the landlady reacting to the damage? The encounter with the jolly chef, sharing with her, the wagon and food, his coming alive, dancing, music, performance?
6. The woman on the bike, on the barge, the encounters with the Man, becoming more friendly, the dancing?
7. The couple on the road, the eccentric measuring, continually coming together, finally the tent, diving back into the tent?
8. The Man, the effect of all these adventures, the encounters, escaping the danger, his car breaking down, the two old men and no words, towing the car, the meal and the drink, fixing the car?
9. The emphasis on meals, celebrations, hotels, dining rooms, festivities, the out of doors, the stalls?

• The effect of sharing the adventures of The Man in the Hat?