𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 (1967) | 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐚𝐭𝐢

Composing absurd comedies is a tough nut to crack, most of the time it results in polarising views and that's the case with Tati's highly acclaimed classic, PlayTime but I'm glad that I ended on the positive side of it. Tati's film is a comprehensive chaotic mess filled with bizarre moments where there's no primary storyline or any central character and yet the film strides smoothly in a capitalist Paris society, which is at the peak of industrial and technological advancement and the people are practically lost amidst the ever-changing world and idiocy of the bourgeoisie.

PlayTime has the kind of aura I crave and would love to get lost in that rapidly evolving sphere just like Monsieur Hulot, portrayed to perfection by Tati himself. Hulot, a perplexed pedestrian gets entangled in a city beaming with constant chitchats and ambient noise and with absurdities all around.

PlayTime's greatness lies in its superbly staged and shot environs owing to the impeccable production design and cinematography. Tati created an entire cosmopolitan area from scratch bestowing us a portrait of the modern world. Through slick editing, dreamlike sequences and systematic use of melancholic music, Tati created a sprawling setpiece filled with madness and slapstick humour. The capability to conceptualise such candid yet so complex stuff is nothing but the work of a wizard.