Comments on: Monsieur Hulot vs. The Modern World

By: Kimberly Lindbergs

Kimberly Lindbergs — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:50:37 +0000

On a side note, someone just left a comment on one of the images that I uploaded to Flickr and pointed out that animator Craig McCracken was inspired by the house in Mon Oncle and used it as the basis for his design of the Power Puff Girls’ house. I enjoyed the cartoon when it aired so I had to share this:

http://www.powerpuff.tv/powerpuff-coloring-24.gif

By: Kimberly Lindbergs

Kimberly Lindbergs — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:38:24 +0000

Patricia – Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it. The last scene is very touching. I loved how it ended on a sentimental note without begging the audience to shed a tear. In general, I really like Tati’s subtlety. Unlike so many modern directors working today, he doesn’t seem to have the need to hammer his audience over the head with his ideas.

Matt – Thanks for stopping by! And I couldn’t agree more. I’d like that fish fountain in my own backyard.

Dan – Thanks for sharing your thoughts & insights on the film. By comparing Expo 58 & Mon Oncle I hope readers understand that I was merely pointing out how the film could seen as a response to it but Tati’s focus is obviously a bit wider and undoubtedly more personal. I look forward to seeing Playtime soon!

David – That’s my favorite site gag too! The house seems to be mocking Hulot half the time and I found that incredibly funny. I couldn’t agree with you more about Tati’s charm. His gentle style of humor is incredibly appealing at a time when most modern movies seem to rely on insult comedy to get their laughs.

By: Jenni

Jenni — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:14:52 +0000

I tried to watch Mon Oncle a couple of years ago, I need to seek it out and try it again. I did enjoy Mr. Hulot’s Vacation, which didn’t have much dialogue either, and it was easy to follow the actions of Mr. Hulot’s bumbling antics at a resort. I would highly recommend the French film, The Red Balloon, for family entertainment. My youngest watched it with me when he was 5 and he still talks about that film! It really touched him.

By: David Ehrenstein

David Ehrenstein — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:38:35 +0000

My favoirte bit is when Monsiuer et madame Arpel sppear in the windows of their house, making it look like a face with two enormous eyes.

Tati’s charm proceeds from the fact that he never attacks the modern world. He simply joshes it. There are no villains in his film. Only people in all their eccentricity.

By: Dan North

Dan North — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:31:28 +0000

Very interesting. I’m not sure about the connection to expo ’58, since Tati’s sets for Mon Oncle were already built by 1956 – there’s an affinity, if not a direct influence.

A lot of the humour is conveyed through sound – the grating noises of the fish fountain, the door buzzer, high heels clicking perilously on concrete tiles. That’s partly what makes the scenes in the Lagrange house seem uncomfortable and unliveable.

Tati’s response to modern consumer society was definitely an abiding theme particularly in his later work, and reaches an epic climax in 1967′s Playtime, which is also highly recommended, though more challenging if you’re not prepared for the minutiae of his sight gags:

http://drnorth.wordpress.com/2008/11/12/jacques-tatis-playtime-modern-life-is-noisy/

By: Matt Hinrichs

Matt Hinrichs — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:54:28 +0000

At the very least, somebody should put the fish fountain back in production!

By: Patricia Nolan-Hall

Patricia Nolan-Hall — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 23:47:53 +0000

Lovely and interesting article.

“Mon oncle” is a charmer from beginning to end with a most delightful score. My favourite gag is probably the boys tricking folks into bumping into the lamppost (I’m a step on a rake gal from way back) and, for some reason, the last scene makes me a little weepy even as I smile.