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From Amazon.co.uk
A comic masterpiece from director-star Jacques Tati (Playtime, Traffic), this 1958 film--Tati's first in colour--reprises the carefree, oblivious title character from the director's hilarious international hit Mr. Hulot's Holiday. This time, the story finds Hulot, a self-involved twit on a constant collision with the physical world, grappling with 1950s-style progress. Visiting his sister and brother-in-law in their ultra-progressive household full of noisy gadgets and futuristic decor, Hulot inevitably has dust-ups with modernity, each one exceptionally funny. Taking a page from Buster Keaton's play book, Tati also employs his trademark techniques with sound and production design to achieve the indefinable, comic genius of his films: the rhythmic clacking of footsteps, the cartoon-panel distance of his camera frame from the heart of the action. (Why are funny things funnierwhen seen from a few extra feet away?) Tati is one of the cinema's great treasures, and Mon Oncle is unforgettable. --Tom Keogh
Product Description
Writer, director and star Jacques Tati reprises his character Monsieur Hulot from his 1953 film 'M. Hulot's Holiday'. In 'Mon Oncle', Hulot lives in a small backstreet dwelling which contrasts sharply with his brother's excessively modern, suburban lifestyle. When Hulot goes to work for his brother havoc ensues.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 38 people found the following review helpful
By John Langley
Format:DVD
Golly, this is good! Tati takes M. Hulot from the seaside (M. Hulot's Holdiday', his earlier masterpiece) to the city,
where he's one of a troupe of highly-eccentric characters whose fantasies and foibles are explored in minute and hilarious fashion. Hulot (circa 1950s.),a descendant of Chaplin and Keaton, reincarnated recently as the absurd Mr. Bean.
where he's one of a troupe of highly-eccentric characters whose fantasies and foibles are explored in minute and hilarious fashion. Hulot (circa 1950s.),a descendant of Chaplin and Keaton, reincarnated recently as the absurd Mr. Bean.
There is no plot to speak of, rather a sequence of glimpses into the self-absorbed silliness of a businessman and his wife who inhabit a recently-assembled super-modern 'maison' complete with an endless supply of dysfunctional mod-cons. Much of the humour is sound-related. Everything buzzes and clacks. Everything is super-stylish and utterly useless. I took it as a satire on industrial civilisation, with utilitarianism displacing all that's natural.
A pack of stray dogs join in the fun, sniffing and pissing everywhere, as personal and fascinating as their human counterparts. The humour is wry and light. I regularly laughed out loud. I saw my own foibles (not to mention those of my friends and family) magnified in excruciating detail.
The depth of insight is extraordinary, the camera-work always perfect, and the boulevardian musical score entrancing and unforgettable.
This is a timeless masterpiece.
74 of 75 people found the following review helpful
By peterpb
Format:DVD
I have grown up with this film, as my father loved it, and his father before, and have been waiting for it to be released on DVD for ages. In Mon Oncle Jaques Tati created a very funny film (in places), a very French film, but above all a film that to me is a statement about life itself. Sometimes the action can be slow, but sometimes life is slow, and you have to wait for the payoff. And when that payoff comes, in Mon Oncle it's amongst the best cinematic moments ever, such as Tati testing the coffee maker for bounciness in his brother's hi-tec 50's kitchen. I will always treasure my Grandad belly laughing at the young boys tricking passers by into the lamp post - this film is like a personal treasure for me, and if it may not have the speed and pace of modern comedies, it has a huge wit, and a feeling of timelessness that will make it a classic forever.
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Jacques Tati's "Mon Oncle" astonished me by its fresh attitude. I saw this film for the first time in 2001, yet it feels as if I'd known it much longer. I adore its backgrounds - that's why you need to watch it at least twice - once to grasp the idea what's in the foreground, twice to notice the background, ever-walking workers with sausage-like plastic tubes among others. It's as much a film as a painting. I watched it again a week ago - and, sadly, it's still funny in 2005, and the laugh is on us - we love electronic devices around, we cherish high-tech kitchens and offices, yet sometimes we can't find our own self.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
My Uncle
Silence can speak volumes, add in Mr Hulot and a brother with a 'modern electric' house and a cheeky nephew and just watch the hi-jinks ensue. Read more
Published 4 days ago by Euqinu
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jacques Tati
Fantastic Jacques! What else is there to add.
Only if you have never watched JT, I recommend do. Read more
Only if you have never watched JT, I recommend do. Read more
Published 1 month ago by J. A. Clarkson
5.0 out of 5 stars
What can I say?
This is a lovely classic. Next to no dialogue but it isn't needed. I keep saying to my husband that he is the Jacques Tati character as he always has to mess with things just... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mrs. A. Robinson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hulot at his best
Jacques Tati was a clown and "Mon Oncle" or "My Uncle" his appotheose.
A very good film and I can't forget the sleeping sofa ! ^_^
A very good film and I can't forget the sleeping sofa ! ^_^
Published 4 months ago by zorglub 2A
3.0 out of 5 stars
Mon Oncle
I have been a Jacques Tati fan for many years but of all his films nothing really compares to Les Vacances de M.Hulot. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Olonzac
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting
This was a present for my husband and he has watched it several times. It is only suitable for a limited audienceMon Oncle [1958] [DVD]
Published on 25 Feb 2011 by Lorraine
4.0 out of 5 stars
Who wouldn't love Jacques Tati?
Very gentle and nostalgic - maybe that's my age talking! Our youngest son loved it too so maybe not.
Published on 5 Aug 2010 by pegleg
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great and gentle comedy of French life
Tati's third feature film is his first in colour, and of all his films it's the one which shows the greatest command of design, including costume design, lighting and composition. Read more
Published on 29 Dec 2009 by Peter Scott-presland
5.0 out of 5 stars
Its not a Hollywood Blockbuster
It is however Wonderful. Of its time of course but Tati is a master of his art. Buy, watch, enjoy. Then get a CD of French cafe music of the 20s and immerse yourself in... Read more
Published on 7 Dec 2009 by Mr BEAM
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tati's best film!
I first saw this film when I was about six years old and watching it again, many decades later, much of it comes back to me: the clicking of the high heels, the fountain, the... Read more
Published on 20 Oct 2009 by Joey Dean
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