Architecture in the Films of Jacques Tati

Jadon 2022-03-21 09:03:26

By Adam Scovell (Little White Lies)

Translator: csh

The translation was first published in "Iris"

Jacques Tati understands space as well as he understands comedy. The director is not satisfied with constructing poetic humor and visual tricks. He also presents the evolution of post-war architectural forms in his films, thinking about the innovations and problems in this process, just like any architect. Teacher like that.

Tati deftly criticized some modernist designs and architecture. As people adapt to these calculated spaces, they may accept them, but they may also resist the changes they bring, and Tati finds a sense of humor in these behaviors. For Tati, these buildings try to "tidy up" human nature, simplifying their lives and denying their wanderlust.

In 1958's "My Uncle," Tati perfectly rendered the contrast between old and new worlds. Unlike Tati's other films, My Uncle carefully emphasizes this collision of old and new, rather than focusing solely on modernity. "My Uncle" is not like a linear narrative, it's more of a journey that takes us through the small, everyday details of this constructed world. We follow Mr. Hulot, Tati's comedic character, through the ever-changing town he lives in.

He lives in a chaotic brick building, rides his bike around town, and then visits his nephew, who lives in the Appel family's automated world that is slowly spreading in size , gradually sweeping the entire town. In the film, Hulot spends a lot of time trying to adapt to the world, but his efforts are largely unsuccessful. He screwed up a lot while working in his brother-in-law's factory; he accidentally got involved in the pranks of local boys; he also had to work hard to get used to the fact that the pebble roads were replaced by asphalt roads for cars. Variety. Most importantly, Hulot makes us realize that many buildings in the new era exist only to support the scene.

While the buildings in his films are primarily designed and constructed to express architectural fallacy, many of the venues he chooses are of course real. In My Uncle, Tati relies on his fantasy of architecture, such as the wonderful, crumbling house we can see walking through the windows on every floor; The straight lines of Villa Pell, with its absurd, fish-like fountain.

However, Tati found inspiration in the real-life Parisian suburb of Joinville, and used it to design that old-world street for My Uncle. Aside from the fake buildings, there are many filming locations in this film, all located near Joinville. For example, while Uncle Hulot's house is of course fictional, it was indeed built and filmed in the suburbs.

Joinville is known for its film history. There was a successful film studio here, producing a large number of French and American films from 1910 until it finally closed in 1987. In addition to the historical traces left by the film, "Tati City" was built here, which belongs to Tati's next film "Play Time". Tati City is a sprawling metropolis full of completely fictitious skyscrapers and towers, and it took even longer to build the set than to make the movie.

Still, the town is largely presented in "My Uncle," and it does serve as the film's opening scene: Tati deliberately contrasts the old French streets with the buildings of the new suburbs. "It is impossible to create a lovely character with geometric lines." It was the real Joinville who made him find a warm and real humanity.

While most of the film's scenes were shot in Nice's Victorian studio, the film's title section - scribbled in chalk on an old brick wall - was shot in the Joinville area . The credits then appear among the signage at the construction site, after which Tati cuts into a group of dogs, led by a dachshund, living at Appel Villa. With a loose wrap, the dog ran from the older roads and bushes all the way to the street beneath the concrete walls, happily viewing the abandoned spaces in between, as well as the many old local lampposts. Importantly, the actions of the group of dogs in the film are largely unplanned, and they have become an inherent part of the film. Tati was very attached to them during filming, and after filming ended, he found a home for them too.

I was also traveling to the suburbs on a lonely winter's day to find this special wall. It is not far from the station of Joinville-le-Pont, at the intersection of a quiet street. From there I continued my journey down the outstretched street at the waters of the Marne. The new buildings along the street seem to be deliberately imitating the design of Playtime. This area seemed unable to get rid of his influence, and then, I took another road, this is the "Jacques Tati Lane" named after him. In the depths of this lane, there is another one of his A statue, which is also dedicated to him.

The old brick walls still remain. However, an old lamp post was moved and replaced with a new lamp post with a different design, which is more modern than the one in the movie. This wall is located between the Rue de Paris and the Rue des Parade, and it is not difficult to imagine that Mr. Hulot was riding his Vélo Sole X bike and suddenly accelerated around the corner here. The building that once stood next to this wall has been demolished and replaced by a simple new building. The city of Tati, with its straight lines, always wins in the end, but happily we can find some old brick walls standing there quietly and rebelliously, like Hulot as sir wanted.

View more about Mon Oncle reviews

Extended Reading
  • Clemmie 2022-03-27 09:01:21

    Tati is really a "magician". It's the first time to see this kind of French old town combined with a cartoon-like modern house. It's so interesting. That house is really fun. The arrow is crazy, and it's even more exaggerated in the factory haha. Beautiful music. The director must have satirized the world in his eyes in this nonsensical way. This is a solid "cold joke".

  • Marcia 2022-03-27 09:01:21

    Godard said it well, Tati is interested in "everything and nothing". In fact, I think the two kinds of life that are typed by Tati are cute~ If you can't live without freedom, then there is nothing better, just choose One of them or the other.

Mon Oncle quotes

  • Charles Arpel: We could go to the Sexy Club.

    Madame Arpel: I prefer Constantino and his nice music.