Trafic – Tati im Stossverkehr (1971)

Trafic – Tati im Stossverkehr: Directed by Jacques Tati. With Jacques Tati, Marcel Fraval, Honoré Bostel, François Maisongrosse. Mr. Hulot drives a recreational vehicle from Paris to Amsterdam in his usual comical, disastrous style.

“Unlike the previous reviewer, I have to say that the French made many great comedies. But just as there are many styles in US cinema, so are there many styles in other countries. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;Traficu0026quot; is a wonderful stab at modern life and our infatuation with cars that is more up to date than ever, with traffic jams at an all time high.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn passing, or rather sitting, through the summery vacation road chaos this Tati movie slaps everything from driversu0026#39; behaviors and quirks that are border less, to general human characteristics, and even matters of national pride.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI disagree with the inability of the French to laugh at themselves – but one needs to realize that the humor involved is very deep and tongue in cheek, but is just about even more stinging because it is not so superficial.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhat makes this movie, just like the other Tati movies so remarkable, is that one does not need to speak or understand French and can still watch it in its original sound track, because the camera does all the work. u0026quot;Shticku0026quot; with brains, a piece of visual art that might hang in a modern art gallery, were it not a movie, self contained, intelligent, funny. It is a neat feature about most Tati films.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI remember being in stitches when I last saw it, and that was after seeing it several times already. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOther great French comedies would be the original versions ofu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;The Tall Blonde With The Red (Black) Shoeu0026quot;, ie u0026quot;Le Grand blond avec une chaussure noireu0026quot;u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e(note that the original odd shoe was black, not red),u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;Birdcageu0026quot;, ie u0026quot;La Cage Aux Follesu0026quot;, the German title of which was much closer to the actual u0026quot;A Cage Of Foolsu0026quot; …. oh heck, just look up movies with Pierre Richard, Jean Rochefort, the unknown to Americans (because he would have put Hollywwod to such shame to kill their business in comedy) all time unforgettable Louis De Funes, Fernandel, Mireille Darc, Yves Montand, Jean Paul Belmondo (one of his movies is an obvious blueprint for Indiana Jones), …. these are all true actors that are also capable of character studies and can deliver such a punch that it flies right over many peopleu0026#39;s heads …. maybe the previous reviewer is right … the French have no comedy … not of the shallow sitcom style in any case. If you can laugh with your whole heart, head , and soul though, then start digging and you will find much of the best ever made.”