Playtime

• Jacques Tati: Monsieur Hulot
• Barbara Dennek: Young tourist
• Rita Maiden: companion of Mr. Schultz
• France Rumilly: glasses seller
• France Delaware Hall: Buyer
• Valérie Camille: secretary
• Erika Dentzler: Madame Giffard
• Nicole Ray: singer
• Billy Kearns: Mr. Schultz
• Yves Barsacq: Hulot friend
• André Fouché: restaurant manager
• Georges Montand: Monsieur Giffard
• Georges Faye: Architect
• John Abbey: Monsieur Lacs
• Reinhard Kolldehoff: German businessman

Playtime ( original title Play Time) is a French-Italian film director and actor Jacques Tati in 1967 in the German-speaking world, he is also under the titles Playtime -. Gone Playtime and Playtime.

Action

The film is set in a futuristic for the 1960s Paris, which consists only of uniform glass and steel structures. The film character Monsieur Hulot - as shown in his other films by Jacques Tati himself - is looking for a Monsieur Giffard. He looks for him in his office, but through a variety of mishaps, they miss all the time. Hulot's path crosses again and again with a coach tour, visited Paris, while around out in this high-rise world that otherwise could also everywhere not only stand, but already really is, as can be seen in a travel agency on the basis of commercial photography: Each Destination advertises with the same high-rise building photo that is pimped by only a few tourist clichés. The modern world is like up to the interchangeability.

Comments

The criticism of modernism, is a recurring feature of the films Tati in Play Time but it celebrates a climax. In particular, the impersonality, conformity and sterility of modernity is criticized about the same at the beginning, when a chrome gleaming building resembles a hospital and can be clearly identified later as an airport. By the monotony of the rooms, the concentration is drawn to the inevitable noise. In the uniformity, it is mainly caused by the people sounds that dissolve the desired Futurist architecture by the inherent comedy. That modernity is probably also eventually remedy this problem is seen on a furniture exhibition. The first company advertises already with a material that does not cause any more noise. Even angry door slamming remains unheard.

The human speech is in the film a mostly unintelligible noise that is mixed into the diverse languages, but also by just reflects personality. For the action language comprehension is also important because the meaning is through movement and mime expressions clear anyway.

The critique of modernity seems less apocalyptic, but so aptly by the irony and malice by the susceptibility of the art. Humanity wins in this unity back small corners of the commonality and individuality. In the final image so gets the expression par excellence of modernity, the automobile mobility, in a roundabout that looks like a never -ending carousel ride.

Jacques Tati has made for this movie to build your own town scenery. The costs, however, were so high that the film these expenses despite great reviews could not import at the box office. Today Playtime is one of the classics.

Reviews

" An environment of melancholy warmth world theater, organized like a cinematic ballet that needs no story, but needs only movements and encounters the initial spark. A sometimes a little fussy, but always intelligently entertaining fun of high aesthetic appeal. "

"Playtime is nothing to compare with what was already shown in the cinema. A film from another planet, where to turn other films. "

Awards

• Étoile de Cristal 1968 Best Picture film

DVD Release

• Playtime. Ufa 2005

Soundtrack

• Francis Lemarque, James Campbell: Playtime. Extraits de la Bande Originale du Film. In: Extraits the original tape of the film de Jacques Tati. Philips / Polygram s.l.s.n. Media no. 836983-2 - Excerpts (Suite ) from the original recording of film music

Movie Documentary

• Play Time Story ( Original Title: Playtime Story). French TV documentary by François Ede from 2002, 33 minutes