Playtime
Aug 08 - Aug 09, 2007
Jacques Tati, France, 1967, 35mm, 126 min
Mr. Hulot finds himself lost in the maze of a fully modernized and dehumanized Paris, stuck with a gaggle of American tourists (English dialogue was contributed by Art Buchwald), mindlessly sightseeing in the dubiously sight-worthy city. Shot over the course of three years on a set the size of small city built on the outskirts of Paris, the film ran tremendously over budget, and its subsequent commercial failure caused Tati's financial ruin. However, it is now recognized as a masterpiece and the fulfillment of Tati's extraordinary vision.
"It is a film which comes from another planet where they make films differently. Playtime is perhaps Europe of 1968 filmed by the first Martian filmmaker." -François Truffaut