Trafic

This is the first time I've seen this final outing for Jacques Tati's sublime comic creation, the affable but bungling Monsieur Hulot.  I remember crying with laughter watching 'Mr. Hulot's Holiday' with this gentler and more subtle predecessor of Mr. Bean (amongst others) bungling his way through a series of classic holiday japes. 'Trafic', despite being fractionally less funny overall, also had its moments and I must confess that I genuinely laughed so hard I cried on at least two occasions. (These days that is a sadly rare occurrence in the McLean household).

Before I get into the bit of the review where I spoil everything by telling you all about the best bits, it's worth mentioning that, in the UK, 'Trafic' is only available via specialist e-tailer, MovieMail. As a perfect supplement to the recently issued BFI box-set (with this movie conspicuous by its absence), this will be an essential purchase for Tati fans and MovieMail should be applauded for having the gumption to licence and market the disc at this time.



In fact, I'm very impressed with MovieMail overall, not only for  running a good efficient business selling quality product to discerning fans of film and television, but also for their own release programme which encompasses some hidden gems that deserve to see the light of day, but which may be so marginal as to bring little guaranteed return. In fact, I am resolved that, if there are only a few pence in it, I will support their business rather than Amazon and Play's corporate might.

Jacques Tati is considered by many to be France's greatest comedian (certainly by me) and it is perhaps surprising that he managed to attain this accolade despite releasing only a fistful of films. In common with many great comedians, not only did he devise and write his comedies, he was inclined to direct and edit (with some help) as well to ensure that his vision remained intact.


 
'Trafic' was produced at the beginning of the seventies and, unlike 'Holiday', is presented in colour. Despite being nearly forty years old, the film's themes and situations remain remarkably contemporary. Car lovers will love this film with its frequent glimpses into a giant autoshow from yesteryear, based in Amsterdam.
 
Hulot (played by Tati) is a draughtsman for a car company whose latest model is a gadget packed camper van. Destined for the autoshow, Hulot and a truck driver head off from their factory in France in a truck which contains the concept car, ably abetted by a PR lady (Maria) who follows in a little yellow sports car. They are due to meet their boss in Amsterdam who has prepared their exhibition stand to appear like the great outdoors, replete with a tape player playing woodland noises. All of this would be fine, except that, for one reason and another, the trio don't get to the show with the car until it is too late, and the show is over.  (Sorry - spoiled it! But you knew that would happen anyway, didn't you?)
 


The key narrative of the film that follows is a gently lolloping road movie, full of absurdities creating a satirical commentary on our love affair with cars. Adversity comes in the form of border police, running out of petrol, and a series of accidents, all of which are played out with a graceful, gentle humour that never descends to John Cleese-like car whipping.
 
Of course all of this is delivered with typical Tati flare, with some wonderfully wry observations that just about stay on the right side of surrealism. One example of this sense of the absurd is when Hulot arrives at a petrol station where every customer is handed a classic bust of a famous person (Shakespeare, Beethoven etc) which they all accept without comment. Any one old enough to remember the early seventies will recall that it was a time when Garages were falling over themselves to give away free cups, glasses, and cutlery.  We also see traffic queues full of people picking their noses. Good old fashioned observational comedy.


 
But the real belly laughs come from Tati himself. There is a scene for example (that you would be forgiven for thinking came straight out of a Mr. Bean movie) where Tati brings an accident victim home to their house and accidentally pulls on some Ivy that covers their house. It falls over their doorway. Being the gentleman he is, he tries to discreetly fix it and soon finds himself hanging upside down from it like a bat just as the PR lady arrives in her car with a potential suitor. Rather than cramp their style, he elects to stay quietly hanging whilst the scene plays out.


 
One of the moments that literally brought tears to my eyes was a wonderful scene where the PR lady thinks that an Afghan waist coat stuck under her wheels is the dead body of her own dog. In an effort to console her, Hulot moves the car off the jacket and realising it's not the dog proceeds to try and tell her but she is too distraught. So he actually hangs it round himself like a jacket which brings even more hysterical tears from her. Hmmm. Not getting it? You're right. You have to see this stuff for yourself. But believe me, it really is very, very funny stuff.


 
Language wise this is a weird mix of French, English and Dutch meaning that everyone will need to see some subs at some time. This version just brings up English subs. In truth, so much of the comedy is purely visual that it really makes little difference.
 
When I realised that this was a 4:3 version of the movie I eyed it suspiciously, looking for evidence of pan and scan but, a little research later and it's clear that this (or as near as dammit) is the original aspect ratio of the film. I don't know whether this was produced with television in mind, though it is a little unusual. Having said that, the quality of the print is really very good.

Right. On to the extras. Where do I start? Well, nowhere really as there aren't any. Not even a trailer. (I might have to get hold of the R1 Criterion 2 Disc version which includes a whole disc of extras including interviews with Tati).


 
I have no hesitation in recommending this edition of 'Trafic'. It's actually the only one you're going to get this side of the (Atlantic) pond. It may be worth checking out the BFI set released this month which you can get at MovieMail, and you'd be advised to chuck this one in the basket too to complete the set whilst you're there. Don't forget - its a MovieMail exclusive so you won't find it anywhere else.