Like many others on the continent, Mr. Hulot travels to a seaside town for his holiday and spends his weeks soaking up the local culture along with the summer sun. Jacques Tati envisioned a film that assembles the memories of countless summers into a picture postcard for the ages. The result is a series of vignettes that, for those who have seen the film, feel like a gentle reminiscence.
The tone of the film is humorous. Though there are pratfalls and other physical comedy, the emphasis is on the humor of anecdotes: the noisy auto that attracts the ridicule of children, the businessman who sits by the sea but can never fully disengage from his work, the peccadillos of vacationers lounging in the sun or relaxing in the dining room of a local inn. Most of the action is done wordlessly, giving the film additional charm.
Some of its greatest joys come from small things, like the sound of a swinging door, a peculiar tennis serve, or---unbelievably---a ping pong match we never really see.
Monsieur Hulot himself is Tati's greatest creation. Hulot is an odd character who goes about his business, unknowingly influencing those around him. Like a stone thrown into a pond, there is a ripple effect.
One can see the influences of the great silent film stars in Tati's work. And one can imagine how many others he has influenced. Rowan Atkinson has acknowledged that influence in Mr. Bean. In more subtle ways, it has probably informed such gems as "Fawlty Towers" and "Local Hero".
For millions, this is a film that might best be described as beloved.
The tone of the film is humorous. Though there are pratfalls and other physical comedy, the emphasis is on the humor of anecdotes: the noisy auto that attracts the ridicule of children, the businessman who sits by the sea but can never fully disengage from his work, the peccadillos of vacationers lounging in the sun or relaxing in the dining room of a local inn. Most of the action is done wordlessly, giving the film additional charm.
Some of its greatest joys come from small things, like the sound of a swinging door, a peculiar tennis serve, or---unbelievably---a ping pong match we never really see.
Monsieur Hulot himself is Tati's greatest creation. Hulot is an odd character who goes about his business, unknowingly influencing those around him. Like a stone thrown into a pond, there is a ripple effect.
One can see the influences of the great silent film stars in Tati's work. And one can imagine how many others he has influenced. Rowan Atkinson has acknowledged that influence in Mr. Bean. In more subtle ways, it has probably informed such gems as "Fawlty Towers" and "Local Hero".
For millions, this is a film that might best be described as beloved.