Playtime -- What Makes This Movie Great? (Episode 95)

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Jacques Tati's fourth feature film is his masterpiece, in my view, the great 1967 movie Playtime. This video reviews and analyzes it. Playtime features Monseiur Hulot, Tati's bumbling fun character who appeared in previous films. Here he walks around modern Paris, a modern city filled with lots of traffic and modern architecture. The video argues that Playtime might be a criticism of the modern in general, plus tourists, and yet it has one of the great stretches of film ever, the restaurant scene, which means that Tati prefers joy and human absurdity to bitterness.
In places in this video, I had to use still images so that the corporation that owns the movie would not block it.
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Disclaimer: All reasonable comments are welcome, including reasoned disagreements. You will be banned for foolish talk, harassment, and hate speech on sight; it's a tremendous waste of life. I believe in freedom of association and, by extension, freedom of dissociation from you.

[@fybso3057]

The restaurant scene was absolutely genius, and one of the most hilarious 45 minutes of cinema I've ever seen

[@LearningaboutMovies]

amen.

[@conradoalbuquerque3905]

This movie has one of the best sound designs I’ve ever seen. It’s absolutely fantastic, the scene with the door that doesn’t make any sound is fantastic.

[@ingvarhallstrom2306]

It's one or the best gags in film history because it's so simplistic in its nature. How was it done? The entire film is of course made without sound and with all the sound effects added in editing and the joke is of course they didn't need to add any sound to that gag. It's pure genius...

[@CakeIsMyCat]

I saw this at a local theater and decided it was in my top 10 of all time; especially when the party ramps up in the restaurant. Some of my favorite moments in my life occurred at parties where we didn't know each other, but we instead gelled and trusted each other. It's a unique and special thing, and I NEVER thought I'd see that experience depicted so well in film. For me, it depicts real life along side austere and saddening progress without leaving me with a sense of hopelessness. Instead, it let me know that I'm not alone. Honestly, it's probably my favorite movie of all time and I'm glad to have found your review. Thanks!

[@LearningaboutMovies]

you're welcome!

[@wosso3342]

I think Monsieur Hulot is the embodiment of individualism. Everything about him is unmistakably him and everywhere he goes he is the spark that causes a fire of chaos that allows the characters around him to reject the societal rules they live by and realize their own individuality. The restaurant guests are the happiest when the whole place is practically broken down because only then are they free to fully be themselves and enjoy the company of the people around them.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@ingvarhallstrom2306]

He's the manic pixie dream girl ...

[@jayeye4798]

Back in the 90's one of my architecture professors sat our studio down and had us all watch this "obscure" movie. Very few movies have moved me to such depths on all the fronts you mention. Really great summary and review. Thank you!

[@LearningaboutMovies]

much appreciated. you're welcome.

[@jayasrighosh8852]

To me playtime is rules vs breaking the rules .The rules play out for the first hour or so and then the restaurant scene breaks all the rules .Take the scene where monsiuer hulot visits his friend in the cubicle apartment .That is how everypne is MEANT to live .But in the restaurant scene all known convention what 'should' be done is totally done away with .The modern generation needs less rules and more playtime , more time for people to explore things off the beaten path .And that is why I love you josh , you invest more time on playtime rather than conventional films which everybody knows about.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you very much. I just make whatever I want to make, and if the algorithms care or not, oh well!

[@dfhwze]

it's about breaking the conformity that is our everyday life, and start living again

[@ingvarhallstrom2306]

Chaos is life, and life will strive and have a life of its own even in a sterile life less environment.

[@luis_565]

Great review of this masterpiece, thank you! I also liked how he subtily quotes the Paris of the 1960's. In the restaurant scene we encounter doubles of the celebreties of that time, like Salvador Dali (painting some guests), Edith Piaf (singing at the piano) and Brigitite Bardot and Romy Schneider as guests. Also, he quotes various Parisian movies in the traffic scene in the end: Pierrot Le Fou, Breathless ("Herald Tribune"), the red balloon.

[@roberthornak2007]

Discovered your channel a couple days ago, now I have a huge line-up of episodes to get to. But I immediately watched this one. Got to see Playtime in 70mm some years ago. It was already a favorite movie, but this became the number one movie-going experience of my life. The final carousel sequence is so gorgeous at any size, but experiencing it that large and clear is like being washed in pure redemption. Your eyes cannot remain dry. You're so right to say he doesn't so much mock, but "has fun with the absurdities". There's never a mean spirit. More than any other director, you walk away from Tati's films with a completely different *frame* around the world - after living in his world for two hours, the things in your own walking POV seem less threatening, less brutal, somehow more comic, or benign, or in any case re-cast as something meant to be observed and enjoyed. I said this in summary to a thing I wrote about him once: "Tati's greatest gift is the gentle imposition of a view of life that is curious about it, aware of its potential to overwhelm, but enchanted by its never-ending poetry." For that rare mix, he's become my favorite director.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

Thank you. Great comment, and welcome!

[@linkbiff1054]

One of your best videos. Just makes me love the film even more.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you very much.

[@DB-vm8rp]

Just found your channel, and I have to say amazing work. Even though you get exponentially more views on videos that are more popular in essence of topic, you still make videos on movies obscure and interesting. Your takes are educated and serious which helps discern you from creators that follow a paid script, and I have to say I appreciate it.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you very much. as for scripts, I was approached a couple of months ago with an offer. At that time I had no idea that that existed. I don't see any need for it.

[@johnmartin2813]

Did anybody else notice the old banger from M. Hulot's Holiday going round the roundabout towards the end?

[@LearningaboutMovies]

really? If this is right, that's a great catch. thanks!

[@dominichemphill]

fantastic video, PlayTime is one of my favourite films ever made. I found a lot of similar messages while watching and studying this film like Tati criticizing uniformity with the buildings and Hulot lookalikes. Barbara is also one of my favourite movie characters because in an ultra-modern world where everything is wacky and goofy, she remains the grounded character. The sense of normalcy amongst all this insanity and abnormality.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you, well said.

[@windowtrimmer8211]

Like nothing else. Immaculate and staggering. A critique of modernism, yet a great and beautiful example of modernism at the same time. Stylistically there is an ingenious contrast between the massive (glass, steel, forced perspectives) and the delicate (small gestures, colorful happenings). This movie is best experienced in a theater in the (recently restored) original 70mm. Special showings happen periodically. If you hear about one, go! Worth a special plane trip.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

agreed. requirement to see on a big screen.

[@MMcL-qe1zj]

One of my favorite films of all time. Each time I watch I find more visuals to marvel over! The restaurant scene is insane (& I mean that in a good/genius-y way!)

[@LearningaboutMovies]

for sure!

[@leinerjesusdiaz8502]

This is the kind of comedy that this time needs right now, with visual art and a great story. I miss those comedies of the golden era when the humour was human and actually funny.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

yeah, I don't know where the sophisticated comedy film went. everybody has been rewarding heavy dramas for years; there are few comedies except deliberately stupid ones.

[@hejskipejski5751]

What a treat! Such a unique film, and shows there are other equally great ways to treat the medium than the traditional approach to cinema.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

yes!

[@MondayMatinee]

I can't imagine what the screenplay for this would look like! Making my way through Tati's movies and this one definitely has some memorable gags. Not to mention the insane production design. Large format is a must for this just to catch everything going on in the scene. Gotta watch it again now.

[@mimicrybypravesh]

I kind of hated this movie until I saw the French restaurant scene. I never wanted that scene to end. Again great analysis of the movie, Josh.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

heh, thank you very much.

[@warrenshousemanager4206]

fantastic video and fantastic film. I really liked the sparse dialogue and visuals.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

excellent, thank you.

[@ingvarhallstrom2306]

One peculiar thing I noticed is that there's an enormity of very tall people in this film, both men and women. Jacques Tati was unusually tall at 191 cm, and he would stick out like a lollipop in every scene. And in this film it seems he wanted to meld into the crowd almost invisibly, and that could only happen if all the cast was as tall or taller than him. As the entire set of "Tativille" was built with forced perspective in mind so it would look much taller on film than it would be in real life, I find it only natural he would use unusually tall people to force the perspective on set. Many scenes not including Hulot seems to include people of normal height, so this only matters in scenes with Hulot in it.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

good observation, thank you.

[@sameerahmed-gx8js]

it's easily one the most unique movie ever made

[@LearningaboutMovies]

yes, for sure. I love it!

[@shortycareface9678]

I've only watched Playtime twice, despite absolutely loving it. Despite there not being much of a direct "plot", I remember being so impressed by its script when first watching it, as in, how the gags are set up, etc. Been wondering about going on a Tati binge, which is what brought me to these videos.

[@gabrielidusogie9189]

As a teacher, what would be your best advice for someone struggling to analyze films? What’s the best and easy way to analyze films?

[@LearningaboutMovies]

it depends what you mean by "analyze." There's two sides to that. One is the techniques used to make the movie. Two are the cultural ideas, philosophies, agendas, etc., that you can do analysis on. One of those tracks, the technique side, is more a "digital media" emphasis. And there are lots of channels that do this pretty well. Here, you would be preparing yourself to make movies by studying how they are made. The other track, cultural analysis, takes time and studying. The best advice I have for it is to read, a lot, for years and years. And read widely: many different subjects. Because film, like literature, combines many different aspects of reality, it helps to know a little about a lot. At the very least, I'd stay study basic philosophy for a few years, plus art history. So there's no "easy" way here. The easiest thing you could do is read one of those film analysis textbooks, by Bordwell or by Gianetti. The earlier editions are dirt cheap (that is, don't get the latest one). Then read a lot of Roger Ebert and other good critics.

[@gabrielidusogie9189]

@@LearningaboutMovies this is really helpful. I wanna be able to do both the technique and the cultural analyses of films. I tried doing the technique but I’m not sure if I do it right and I have a hard time figuring if a camera angle or shot has a shallow or deep depth of field. I wanna make a video essay but I’m worried of being wrong and I don’t want to take someone else’s analysis or meaning of movie because that feels like cheating. Nothing frustrates me more than watching a film, liking it but not knowing what it meant but then watching a vid essayist get it right when it was staring at me the entire time.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

I would say don't worry or be fearful. The worst that can happen is that you will fail, which is great because you will learn the most from failure. As long as you keep trying something. I knew nothing about filming and video editing when I started this channel. The risk was looking stupid and making mistakes. In the long run, nobody cares how you look but you. Let your ego die quickly, then you won't worry about anything!

[@ericantonow]

Exceptional commentary! Way to focus on the joy. Emphasizing your note: all of this human goofiness happens with the backdrop of rigid modernism, autos and cars alike. Whatever the age we are silly. The American tourists are a too easy target and Tati’s fun-loving American at the restaurant is his counterpoint: that man is the life of the party, he’s life itself.

[@Driv3rWisard]

Making people extras and moving the main role to the architecture is genius.

[@jimmyj1969]

Thumps up for your tribute to this great film of a great artist! Indeed, Playtime is Tati's more ambitious movie - but also the one where he explore his thematics in the clearest way!

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@OirichEntertainment]

This film looks beautiful and ahead of its time. I wonder what lenses he used to film this. The ideas he was trying to get across seem very interesting. Definitely have to see this after I finish Mon Oncle.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

yes, it would be very useful to watch Mon Oncle first, I think.

[@dominichemphill]

hey, fancy seeing you here Oirich😳 Tati used 70mm for this film that’s why a lot of what you see is very long shots with deep focus, as well as being “crispier” and brighter.

[@stonesinmyblood27]

Playtime, Gettysburg and Wizard of Oz are my top three movie favorites

[@lolizorz]

I have to see this movie again

[@LearningaboutMovies]

hopefully the video helps.

[@jimdziobek2375]

Thanks for explaining this, just watched it in film school and really had no idea what I was watching

[@LearningaboutMovies]

you're welcome.

[@diegolunkes2062]

Great video! Loved the movie and your review as well.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@mimicrybypravesh]

I think Jacques Tati is the only great director whose movies I've not watched. I need to watch his movies, 'cause I like comedy a lot.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

yes, try and see.

[@roaminronin7818]

I feel like Tati's movies will probably age like wine for me & ill appreciate them more on multiple viewings. I've seen PlayTime, Holiday, & Mon Oncle all once (in that order & probably appreciating them in that order as well) & I feel this one does have the most going on & is his best. I think what has made me like more than love them is that I've gone in expecting to laugh but many jokes fall flat - however I know there is much more than humor here with many societal/sociological themes as you're pointing out, such as the awkwardness of modernity. The restaurant scene is definitely masterful. Enjoyed your analysis. I look forward to seeing this again.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@JohnDoe-bz4yl]

I ordered the Tati BLu Ray Collection from Amazon UK a couple of days ago looking forward to watchinhg the films

[@TheChannelofaDisappointedMan]

There is no movie I love the color of more. All those cool grays.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

yes, they really are striking, and it's hard to get gray to be striking.

[@lenzotrumpet]

I must say thank for your review which actually explained what was "going on" in this movie Playtime .Love Tati's movies love Tati for what he does...so thank you too for a fine review and explanation of this movie .

[@LearningaboutMovies]

you're welcome

[@poodzman7434]

have you heard of the sci-fi film Ikarie XB-1? If so, what do you think of it?

[@LearningaboutMovies]

I have not, but now I will get it and watch it. thank you.

[@poodzman7434]

@@LearningaboutMovies It's based on the Stanisław Lem novel “The Magellanic Cloud” in case that piques your interest. I think it stylistically influenced some of the later films. It has some Soviet propaganda in it, though. Also, thank you for replying to every comment.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

no problem. Lem is one of my favorites but I have never found a cheap enough copy of that one. Once I saw that it was based on his work, I must watch it. perhaps you'll see a video on it here.

[@johnmartin2813]

All his films are ballets. And Tati is a great choreographer. Playtime is the supreme ballet.

[@Rankerquat]

Ooooh i'm not so sure about the movie "Mocking" tourists, especially when you consider how the movie ended; how Jaques gave that tourist a scarf with the Eiffel tower on it. I feel like it's mocking in the same way a loved one might send you a picture of a sad, pathetic kitten and say "heheheh! ❤ That's YOU!" It's playfully mocking! Satirically endearing.

[@mrtunapie6653]

I dont know, but I would bet that this film was inspiration for Blake Edwards The Party with Peter Sellers.

[@user-jq9ui6es6d]

Hey! Check out Piero Scaruffi's top 100 favorite films and let me know what you think of it. It's one of the largest film tier lists on the internet and Scaruffi even has lists for pretty much every decade and all the individual years starting with the year 1980. There are lots of films on these lists I've never heard of, like DAU Degeneration as the best film of 2020.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

I think you are referring to this: www.scaruffi.com/cinema/best100.html I haven't heard of that Robert Aldritch movie in his top 20. Will check it out.

[@user-jq9ui6es6d]

@@LearningaboutMovies Yes, that one (I couldn't post the link, or else my comment would've been seen as spam). Although the list is more or less arbitrary and Scaruffi recommends you to look at the lists for the individual decades instead. I just thought it might be interesting since Scaruffi has been on the internet pretty much ever since its inception and that site is a huge database of films and I've found some pretty good ones, like Edward Yang's highly underrated "That Day on the Beach" (1983) or Fassbinder's pretty good sci-fi film (technically a TV mini-series but it's just two episodes that are 202 minutes long combined) "Welt am Draht" (1973). Another thing I like is that he's very careful with his scores, to the point of only ever having given three movies a 9.0/10, with most films being somewhere between a 3/10 and 8/10. Just thought of letting you know about that site since it's pretty detailed (most directors have their own profile with summaries+reviews of each film) and I've found some pretty good hidden gems using it.

[@stephaneclavier6576]

Jacques Tati un visionnaire des années 60. Comme architecte, en 40 ans de production, j'ai toujours lutté contre ce monde moderne fait de rigidité. Malheureusement, contre la société de surproduction et de consommation, je crois avoir perdu. . .

[@globalanSE]

Thank you

[@LearningaboutMovies]

you're welcome

[@alanwatson4249]

Great stuff. You've convinced me. Is there a relationship with other French films, and directors. of the period?

[@LearningaboutMovies]

I have not thought about or read anything about Tati's place in the French New Wave. However, surely everything we are seeing in this movie is a response to that filmic revolution, which is both modernistic and playful, usually. Yours is a great question, though, and I hope someone else chimes in here.

[@alanwatson4249]

@@LearningaboutMovies Thanks, and I agree. I am reminded of Godard - weekend and Alphaville - both nowhere near as funny or playful but seriously questioning the. modern life and environment. I have so many movies to watch!

[@alanwatson4249]

@@LearningaboutMovies Also there is a certain charm in Gallic style, especially in film, which I think Tati is aware is disappearing into a (American led) kind of globalism - ahead of his time.

[@phil6904]

@@alanwatson4249 Interesting comparison with Alphaville. Chaos breaking out of the modernist order, but without Tati’s unique tone.

[@alanwatson4249]

@@phil6904 Agree. Post WWII British film concentrated on worthy POW, war and historical movies. The USA similar but with the incredible film noir as a reaction. In France, which had had many years of German fascist occupation and where British/US culture was denied on pain of death, films were different. The cultural floodgates opened to produce Cahiers etc by young men who had lived under brutal fascist rule. Many of the French films produced are 'resistance' movies. Bresson, Melville etc. BTW apologies for Criterion are not streaming into the UK - I misread an old post regarding the marketing of their Blu-rays.

[@Master2552FTW]

Who's here after dunkeys vid?

[@LearningaboutMovies]

not me. don't know dunkeys.

[@CayeDaws]

@@LearningaboutMovies VideogameDunkey. He's a gaming channel who just made a video on this movie

[@ltohmmm5858]

Jacques Tati vs the cold technocrats

[@LearningaboutMovies]

yes! and vs. all of the city planners and modern architects.

[@president5301]

WHERE CAN I WATCH GHIS MOVIE PLZZZZ HELP PLZZZ

[@LearningaboutMovies]

probably Criterion Channel. Go to letterboxd, look up movie, and it will tell you where online you can stream it. This is all legal streaming too.

[@greghuffman3061]

im also playing Mario WONDER

[@jantaliban1]

i'm in love with the bob haired dancing girl in white dress. She's so beautiful and dances so hot.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

I think Tati was as well.

[@ingvarhallstrom2306]

The single best dancer of the lot.

[@matth6932]

Monsieur pronounced (muh-syur). Great film.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thanks.

[@nullname0]

0 dislikes?

[@LearningaboutMovies]

Don't care.

[@nullname0]

@@LearningaboutMovies I'm just saying its rare to have 0 dislikes

[@LearningaboutMovies]

I can never figure out what dislike means. I use it to just keep youtube from recommending me more videos like it, and not to say that I do not like the video.

[@MentatGibraltar]

Spielberg ---> Hitchcock ---> Chan Wook Park --->Bong Joon Ho --->Fellini --->Godard --->Antonioni --->Wong Kar Wai --->Bergman --->Von Trier --->Tarkovsky --->Tati --->......???????

[@LearningaboutMovies]

hmmm.... is this a ranking?

[@MentatGibraltar]

@@LearningaboutMovies Sorry for my vagueness. It's the chronological list of directors that captivated me over life so far. Tati being the most recent.

[@masterxk]

Í never seen this movie. I think like cities and modernity we are busy and moving with no meaning or purpose at all. Pointless movement.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

definitely follow @wrathofgnon on Twitter. Changes vision and perspective about this.

[@negzak]

Merci de ton analyse qui est juste et qui récompense l'oeuvre de cet homme si humble et si génial!!! Thank you for your analysis which is fair and which rewards the work of this humble and brilliant man!!!

[@LearningaboutMovies]

you're welcome.