About
Jacques Tati, born Jacques Tatischeff, was a French filmmaker and actor, a major figure of visual comedy. After a career as a music-hall mime, he created the character of Monsieur Hulot, a clumsy innocent confronted with modernity. His films, including Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot and Mon Oncle, use wide shots, deep staging, and elaborate sound for slapstick humor. His most ambitious work, Playtime, was a commercial failure that left him in debt. He received a César d'honneur in 1974. His unproduced screenplay was adapted into the animated film The Illusionist in 2010.
* 1907-10-09 — † 1982-11-05
Major works
- Jour de fête (1949)film
- Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot (1953)film
- Mon Oncle (1958)film
- Playtime (1967)film
- Trafic (1971)film
Key milestones
- 1953Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot won the Prix Louis Delluc.
- 1959Mon Oncle received the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
- 1974Received a César d'honneur for lifetime achievement.
Themes
modernity and technologyvisual comedysocial critiquemovement and gestureabsurdity of everyday life
Sources: britannica.com · id.loc.gov · getty.edu