MovieChat Forums > Playtime (1973) Discussion > What a shame

What a shame

posted 18 years ago by ken-miller-4
5 replies | jump to latest

Tati lost everything with this film -- his house, the rights to all his films -- but this is proof that true art is worth the sacrifice. Play Time is not only his finest film, it's one of the most amazing films I think I've ever seen. It's just fascinating to watch. I've been a fan of Mon Oncle and Hulot's Holiday for years, but had never had the opportunity to watch this. I just bought the DVD earlier this month, and have already watched it multiple times.

It's easy to see why Tati and Kubrick admired each other so much. There's much silmilarity there. Now that the dust has settled and just the art remains, it's clear Tati was a man of vision -- truly before his time.

Any true fan of cinema needs to see this.

[–] matofly 18 years ago

I agree. Tati was a true artist and just like kubrick, he made only a few, but presice films in his career. After just watching playtime today, I must say that there are not so many movies in the world, that compare to this. Though i still prefer that crazy postal worker and would have hoped more movies from that character, I still say that Tati was the greatest and propably will be for the next couple of decades. And to every Tati-fan: keep on posting.

[–] GuyOnTheLeft 12 years ago

Well said. But as you say, it was worth it for what he left to humanity.

[–] BillyFisher 12 years ago

I watched it this evening for the first time since I was a kid. It wasn't as laugh-out-loud funny as Vacances and Mon Oncle, and it was on the slow side, but it struck me as the Hulot film the most ripe for unpacking; I think I could watch it a few more times and still keep finding new things.

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[–] franzkabuki 11 years ago

Did Kubrick really ever comment on Tati? That´s news to me (and I don´t mean to be sarcastic here).

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] lubin-freddy 8 years ago

I often use this as an argument against the over-simplistic notion that the French always love and support THEIR artists.

What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence.