Sunday 9 January 2011

Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot



It seldom rates in all those lists of the hundred greatest films of all time etc but Jacques Tati's 1953 seaside romp, Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot, at L'Hotel de la Plage, Saint-Marc-sur-Mer (1953)is one of my favourites. Jacques Tati knew and could exploit, with perfect accomplishment and timing, the humorous potential of the human face, feet and foibles.

The actual hotel used is still there (rather prosaically part of the Best Western group)and it is possible to go to stay there but it has been 'refurbished' and I don't suppose that the dining room swing doors still make that 'boinging' noise everytime that they are swung; Monsieur Hulot and Martine went home long, long ago, and, of course, the scenery will all be in colour.

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