Play Time
Posted by martinteller on October 21, 2006
A real masterpiece from Tati. A wonderfully comic, and at times gently melancholy, look at people constantly struggling against their modern, homogenized environments. Wide shots and long takes give you time to process how much is happening in any scene, while still leaving plenty to discover during subsequent viewings. The frame is loaded with sight gags, mellow slapstick, and social commentary. I must confess that as a fan of Hulot, I was a bit disappointed to see him in a smaller part, but I appreciate Tati’s motivations in diminishing the role. The only problem with this is that few of the other characters are as intrinsically appealing as Hulot, and their comedy derives mainly from their interactions with antagonistic architecture and contraptions without contributing their own amusing mannerisms. Rating: 9
