a jacques tati double-feature on a bleak sunday afternoon
ok - let's see what i've been missing with this french icon
first-up - jour de fete (the big day) set on bastille day 1949
opening scene - merry-go-round equipment on a rural lane
and the first giggle - horses seen scampering at the sight of it
with their plastic counterparts on clear display in the carriage
the film is black and white - or more accurately - grey and white
it's vintage on clear display - no discernable modernisation in sight
the carriage enters town to the delight of a small boy following
an elderly hunched woman in black providing some narration
sub-titled of course as she tells her goat (nanny) of the event
seems the town has been planning all year for this one day
the chairs at the main cafe still wet from a fresh paint job
people come and either sit or are admonished by the owner
yep - slapstick - a more modernised version of mr chaplin
our man (tati) playing the part of the local bicycle postman
first seen also on country roads being hounded by a pesky fly
we hear but don't see it - and clearly an annoyance for francois
he dismounts, flaps arms, contorts his body, mounts and rides
arrives in the town and spends an eternity helping erect a pole
all the time continually stepping on a rake which hits his head
the town square eventually set up and people are in party mode
the visiting entertainers seen leering at and fleecing the locals
francois sees a film in a tent about the american postal service
this before tv in this time and place and so film very influential
their use of machinery inspires him to provide a better service
the later part of the film sees him doing crazy bike manoevres
mounting, dismounting, dodging cars, crashing into fences, etc
stepping back it's easy to see how tati would have been popular
it's all reckless stuff and a laugh a minute - an earlier mr bean
at the end of the day (yep) the visitors pack up and move out
and the little boy seen following them - in a postman's cap
ah - clever - a generational shift and an ongoing lifestyle
it's all quite good fun really - glad i got to see the man
mr hulot's holiday - tati's second film released in 1953
the introduction telling us this cut has had the treatment
i'm expecting colourisation - nope - grey and white again
a memorable opening scene of a large rock on a seashore
and a train station - people clamouring between platforms
as an announcer constantly announces the wrong platform
paris presumably - a rush to get on trains - roads also busy
cars loaded up with people and suitcases on country roads
and a jalopy of a car - seems to be running on one cylinder
it cruises into the seaside town and mr hulot (tati) checks in
a wild wind blowing as he steps into the now full lounge
metaphorical presumably - the other guests ignore him
next day at the beach across the road we meet the guests
there's the businessman seen dashing to take a phonecall
an older couple ambling with the husband always behind
a mischievous boy with a magnifying glass burning holes
and a retired army colonel regaling war stories to anyone
there's an intellectual insisting on dispensing his knowledge
and a blond beauty by herself being mysteriously ignored
in amongst all this hulot causes havoc quite innocently
strutting around with his ever-present pipe and hat
he releases the cable holding a boat being painted
in the boat he hires, he stands up and snaps the floor
causing the boat to enclose him and appear shark-like
a bit of a stretch but enough to have the tourists running
mealtimes are just as chaotic and the waiters inhospitable
and the squeak of the kitchen door an annoying constant
it all gets a bit tedious really - i'm doing the watch-check
the big finale sees hulot let loose on a cache of fireworks
probably quite dangerous and in 1953 trail-blazing (ahem)
it's definitely a film of it's time - hugely popular it seems
acknowledged as very influential for others e.g. mr bean
again - glad i saw it to get a perspective of jacques tati
but probably won't be rushing to see his other films
in the end a long 3 hours of a tati double-feature
a full house too - the kids loved it - a good sign
me - merci - was very cosy in the small theatre...
