MID-CENTURY FRENCH DREAM (Jacques Tati "Playtime")

Paris (La Defense),

I have now seen two of French filmmaker Jacque Tati’s films, Mon Oncle (1958) and now his brilliant 1967 film Playtime. I am now hooked, in fact so much so that I have just gone online to order both of these films and one other.  I would describe Playtime as a satirical look at American Moderism’s influence in France in the post war years, albeit 20 years post war in the case of this film.  The film pokes fun at the architecture, design, products, and services of the modern era.  Jacque Tati plays a haphazard visitor who stumbles his way through this modern landscape that is celebrated and relished by it’s somewhat shallow and frivolous, even shameless inhabitants and temporary visitors alike.  For those of you who do not speak French, worry not, in the world created by Tati, these Parisians all speak Franglais… French with a strong American accent and every other word is English.

 

Now Some Highlights!

 

A busload of American tourists marvel at and photograph faceless modern edifices as if they were French landmarks, “Look it’s Le Tour Duval.” In the department store our American visitors are heard saying …  “Hey girls it’s all so modern, they even have American stuff!” At various stages of the film, you can’t help but catch a glimpse of the reflected image of the Eiffel tower and Sacre Coure in the ubiquitous modern glass doors… these are otherwise nowhere to be seen on this tour.

 

Franglais speaking sales people hawk vacuum cleaners with headlights, one woman exclaims… “What a perfect gift that will make for my maid,” another cries out “Look antiques, a Corinthian column for your trash.” Elsewhere among all the brilliam cinematographic eye candy are signs extolling “Slamm your door in golden silence,” visible in the background are lighting by Philips and appliances by Hotpoint.

 

Other sarcastic digs at modern society include travel agency posters depicting the great cities of the world all with the same non-descript modern high rise with ‘Fly to Mexicio City’ and ‘Fly to Tokyo,’ apartments whose windows and décor are more like showcases for modern furnishings and appliances, all these perfect tableau are set against the frantic pace of automobiles and seemingly endless traffic cues.

 

An ad that announces “Utilisez Quick Cleaner Parce que Quick Cleaner est tres quick” with an obvious American accent, another is the American tourists comparing each other’s outlandish fashion while passing on an escaltor.  The only real entertainment is provided by workers in a building carrying glass while spectators watch and hum tunes to the rhythm of their work.  The sound effects and shtick are classic and add to the humor of this classic.

 

The carousel like scene of the cars in the roundabout at the end is simply classic, the scene morphs into what is reminiscent of an amusement park, the window cleaner reflects the scene as the happy hoard of American tourists make their way to the airport and their trip to Paris ends, the city of lights shines in the modern street lights approaching the airport.

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