In 'Playtime' (1967), legendary French director Jacques Tati performs in his trademark role of 'Mr Hulot'. The bumbling Hulot is perhaps best described as a French 'Mr Bean' (see Tati's earlier films 'Mon Oncle' or 'Mr Hulot's Holiday' for further examples of the character). The premise of the film is simple; Hulot is supposed to meet up with a nameless official in Paris, but instead becomes lost amongst events taking place around him (at one point he becomes entangled with a gaggling brood of middle-aged female American tourists).
'Playtime' eschews classical Hollywood film narrative in favour of ambitious, episodic set pieces, where Hulot and a huge cast of extras interact (often simultaneously) with the futuristic sights and sounds of the modern world, its sterile and alienating effects providing the main source of comedy. The camera rarely focuses for too long on one particular character in a scene and dialogue is often relegated to background noise.
Playtime is renowned for its enormous set, 'Tativille', constructed on the outskirts of Paris in 1964 specifically for the film and considered to represent a microcosm of the modern French capital. The overriding greyness of the set design is punctuated from time to time with flashes of vibrant colour, whether it be from the chaotic traffic jams, or a flower seller on a street corner.
The result is a subtle, yet visually and aurally stunning film and is arguably Tati's masterpiece.
Reviewed by Corporal Tench
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