Expat Cinema Rotterdam

► ABOUT THE FILM
Playtime is Jacques Tati’s visionary and satirical comedy about the alienation of modern urban life. Set in a hyper-modern version of Paris built from glass, steel and endless reflections, Monsieur Hulot wanders alongside countless others through a world where technology and efficiency seem to have displaced the human touch. With barely any dialogue and an impeccable sense of visual comedy, Tati observes the absurdities of modern society.

For this monumental production, Tati spent years creating his most ambitious film. He risked everything to build Tativille: a vast purpose-built set complete with an airport, office buildings, apartment blocks and the film’s iconic roundabout. The result is a singular cinematic experience in which the city itself, rather than any one protagonist, takes centre stage, revealing new details with every viewing.

Shot in stunning 70mm, Playtime has become a timeless classic at the intersection of cinema, architecture and design. A visual masterpiece that continues to be experienced at its very best on the big screen.

► ABOUT THE FILM
Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot is set in a seaside resort on France’s Atlantic coast, where holidaymakers bring their urban routines to a place meant for rest and relaxation. Into this tranquil setting arrives Monsieur Hulot in his old, noisy car, with the simple intention of enjoying his vacation.

However, his naïve and clumsy nature unintentionally sets off a series of small mishaps and misunderstandings. Though his intentions are always good, his actions repeatedly create gentle chaos, gradually disrupting the peace of the hotel guests and unsettling the seemingly idyllic holiday atmosphere.

Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot marks a pivotal moment in Jacques Tati’s oeuvre, introducing Monsieur Hulot as the catalyst for subtle chaos in an otherwise orderly world.

Presented in a stunning 4K restoration, the film allows audiences to fully appreciate its sun-drenched coastal landscapes, meticulously choreographed physical comedy, and the intricate visual details of Tati’s masterful mise-en-scène.

► ABOUT THE FILM
Mon Oncle unfolds between two sharply contrasting worlds: a hypermodern, sterile suburban neighborhood and a more traditional, lively environment. In the ultramodern home of the Arpel family, everything is automated and meticulously organized, leaving little room for spontaneity or play. Their young son, Gérard, grows up in this carefully controlled setting, where boredom is never far away.

The arrival of Monsieur Hulot, Madame Arpel’s brother, disrupts this perfectly ordered world. His easygoing and playful approach to life constantly clashes with the logic of efficiency and modern design, giving rise to a series of delightfully comic situations. At the same time, he becomes an unexpected source of imagination and freedom for young Gérard. In an attempt to limit Hulot’s influence, the family puts him to work at his brother-in-law’s plastics factory, where he once again throws a meticulously functioning system into disarray.

Presented in a beautiful 4K restoration, the film showcases the extraordinary precision of Tati’s mise-en-scène, the striking architecture of the modern world, and his masterful physical comedy with renewed clarity. Mon Oncle marks a significant step in Tati’s evolution as a filmmaker, moving toward a more analytical and visually composed style in which humor emerges from space, rhythm, and the collision between people and their modern surroundings.

► ABOUT THE FILM
Mon Oncle unfolds between two sharply contrasting worlds: a hypermodern, sterile suburban neighborhood and a more traditional, lively environment. In the ultramodern home of the Arpel family, everything is automated and meticulously organized, leaving little room for spontaneity or play. Their young son, Gérard, grows up in this carefully controlled setting, where boredom is never far away.

The arrival of Monsieur Hulot, Madame Arpel’s brother, disrupts this perfectly ordered world. His easygoing and playful approach to life constantly clashes with the logic of efficiency and modern design, giving rise to a series of delightfully comic situations. At the same time, he becomes an unexpected source of imagination and freedom for young Gérard. In an attempt to limit Hulot’s influence, the family puts him to work at his brother-in-law’s plastics factory, where he once again throws a meticulously functioning system into disarray.

Presented in a beautiful 4K restoration, the film showcases the extraordinary precision of Tati’s mise-en-scène, the striking architecture of the modern world, and his masterful physical comedy with renewed clarity. Mon Oncle marks a significant step in Tati’s evolution as a filmmaker, moving toward a more analytical and visually composed style in which humor emerges from space, rhythm, and the collision between people and their modern surroundings.