The extravagantly realised, surreal comic vision that stalled actor/director Jacques Tati's career now stands as a glorious, rewatchable, meticulously detailed masterpiece. Eschewing close-ups, the film watches, with warm bemusement, a group of Americans on a 24-hour trip to a fantasy version of Paris (a six-acre set that was built completely from scratch and dubbed "Tativille" by the press).
Tati, as Monsieur Hulot, slips through the film, but he radiates most star wattage as director, orchestrating a symphony of buildings, cars, surfaces, lifts, lights and seat cushions to hypnotic effect. Tati called the film "an invitation": it's one you'll want to accept again and again.
DVD Extras:
A Tati biography and documentary, continuity supervisor Sylvette Baudrot on Tati's direction, a further documentary on the 1967 film and a rich, engaging commentary from Total Film contributor Philip Kemp, all of which reveal yet more layers to this delightful film.
