Saturday, December 08, 2012

Playtime

A series of animated GIF images from one of my absolute favorite movies, Playtime, by Jacques Tati (1967). He wrote and directed  and starred in it. He almost bankrupted his studio in the process as he built an alternative Paris for his film. Much of it still exists on the studio lot, Tativille, as it is called. It's the kind of movie that was almost incomprehensible when it was released, but only improves like a great wine with time and each tasting. Tati was one of the greatest, most subtle physical comedic actors and his genius was finding the absurdity of the interaction of human nature and the impersonal modern world. The last shot is absolute art. The briefly noticed reflection of the Eiffel Tower in the minimalist glass door.

No comments: