History Film / Playtime

To make this film Tati borrowed a whole bunch of money and built enormous sets--namely, ''everything'' in the movie: the buildings, the airport set, the glass-walled apartments, the streets-- in a gigantic complex called "Tativille". He took three years and spent 17 million francs. The film failed at the box office and Tati lost everything, including his production company, the rights to his movies, and his own home. His career as a director was effectively derailed for the rest of his life. It is, however, still hailed by critics as his masterpiece.

* ElNinoIsSpanishForTheNino
--> '''Barbara''': How do you say "drugstore" in French?\\
'''Hulot''': "Drugstore."

* SilenceIsGolden

* UntranslatedTitle: A rare example in that this French film has an original title in English. (The French title would probably be ''Récréation''.)

Meanwhile, a young American woman named Barbara is part of a tour group mostly comprised of other, older American women. The group seems to be spending a lot of its time in this decidedly un-scenic part of Paris, visiting a trade fair with many new household gadgets on display, even as Barbara would much prefer to see more of Hulot's old Paris. Eventually Hulot and Barbara meet up at a brand new upscale restaurant that is having a lot of difficulties on its opening night.

Meanwhile, an American woman named Barbara is part of a tour group of American women. Her tour group seems to be spending a lot of its time in this decidedly un-scenic part of Paris, seeing a trade fair with many new household gadgets on display, even as Barbara would prefer to see more of Hulot's old Paris. Eventually Hulot and Barbara meet up at a brand new upscale restaurant that is having a lot of difficulties on its opening night.

** There isn't a lot of dialogue in the movie, and what dialogue there is, is mostly irrelevant chatter.

It is the third of four films in which Tati played his signature character Monsieur Hulot, following ''Film/MonOncle'' and ''Film/MrHulotsHoliday''. Here he expanded on his previous style and created a film with a greater scope than ever. It tells no cohesive story but is a set of [[RandomEventsPlot loosely-connected vignettes]], with a sort of running theme about the alienation and anomie created by modern life and technology.

* VisualPun: A priest stands below the big O in a neon sign, which lights up to make it appear he has a halo.

To make this film Tati borrowed a whole bunch of money and built enormous sets--namely, ''everything'' in the movie: the buildings, the airport set, the glass-walled apartments, the streets, a gigantic complex called "Tativille". He spent 17 million francs. The film failed at the box office and Tati lost everything, including his production company, the rights to his movies, and his own home. His career as a director was effectively derailed for the rest of his life. It is however still hailed by critics as his masterpiece.

[[quoteright:284:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/play_time_23.jpg]]

''Playtime'' (also spelled ''Play Time'') is a 1967 French film directed by Creator/JacquesTati.

It is the third of four films in which Tati played his signature character Monsieur Hulot, following ''Film/MonOncle'' and ''Film/MrHulotsHoliday''. Here he expanded on his previous style and made a film with a greater scope than ever. It tells no story but it is a set of loosely connected vignettes, with a sort of running theme about the alienation and anomie created by modern life and technology.

* BoneCrushingHandshake: A gag. A man extends his hand to Hulot--but his eyeglasses are in his hands. Hulot grasps the man's hand and breaks his glasses.