HYPNOTIZED AND HYSTERICAL (HAIR DRESSER WANTED) (FILLES PERDUES, CHEVEUX GRAS) International Feature Competition

Three young women-and three very confused minds-cross paths on their individual quests in a hypnotic world of their own. Each is looking for someone or something she has lost. After angry, working-class single mom Elodie is fired from her latest menial job, she needs to prove to the welfare people that she’s fit to raise her daughter. The sky falls on habitually sunny Natacha when her cat goes missing. Marianne is hopelessly ensnared by ferociously womanizing Arnaud, an art dealer who stalks both sexes with equal slickness and may not even limit himself to two-legged prey. They’ll all end up finding something they never bargained for-friendship and love. On the way, they’ll meet an exotic gallery of characters, including a big-hearted ethnologist, a dynamite therapist, a Masai warrior, an Inca princess and some fantasy creatures of the animal variety. As they come into their own-when words fail-singing soars in strangely poetic, sometimes comic but always candid lyrics. A completely off-kilter confection with witty musical numbers… Claude Duty’s film (is) peppered with comic visuals and propelled by wonderful performances from its central trio.