The Man in the Hat

The fact that the title of the movie is the only name by which we know the main character gives some clue as to the level of whimsy at play in this charming French comedy. In The Man in the Hat, co-directors Jean-Paul Davidson and Stephen Warbeck prove a powerful combo. Davidson brings his experience directing travelogues for the likes of Stephen Fry and Michael Palin to the postcard-perfect landscapes and intimate village backdrops, while Warbeck's Oscar-winning (Shakespeare in Love) music carries equal weight in a film with very little dialogue.

Drawing upon traditions of silent and absurdist comedy, the movie is rich with clever touches and unexpected interludes -- a character painting his clothing to hide a hole, a pair of workers whose job it appears to be is to measure anything they see. Hinds is perfectly cast as the hat-wearing protagonist. His expressive face articulating feelings of bewilderment and befuddlement as he makes his way across the country -- in a comically small car -- through a series of moments, interactions, greetings, and goodbyes. The supporting cast are equally captivating. Stephen Dillane gives a particularly memorable performance as The Damp Man, who continuously turns up along the way weighed down by his wet clothes and various levels of melancholy. Light, playful, and heartwarming to the end, this is a cinematic journey well worth the ride.