The Man Who Wasn't There: Synopsis

The Man Who Wasn't There is the new film from Joel and Ethan Coen. Set in the summer of 1949, The Man Who Wasn't There has as its title character Ed Crane (Billy Bob Thornton), a barber in a small northern California town. Ed is dissatisfied with his life, but his wife Doris' (Frances McDormand) infidelity presents Ed with an opportunity for blackmail that he thinks will help him to change it. However, Ed's scheme unravels and lays bare even darker secrets before leading to murder.

The Man Who Wasn't There is a tale of passion, crime and punishment, all presented in glorious black-and-white. The film reunites the Coens with many of their frequent creative collaborators on both sides of the camera, including leading lady Frances McDormand (starring in her first Coen brothers movie since winning the Academy Award as Best Actress, for the Coens' "Fargo") and cinematographer Roger Deakins.

In its world premiere at the 2001 Cannes International Film Festival, The Man Who Wasn't There won (in a tie) the Best Director Award.