The Films of Jacques Tati

M. Wayne Cunningham is a past executive director of the Saskatchewan
Arts Board and the former director of Academic and Career Programs at
East Kootenay Community College.

The comedic French film star Jacques Tati has been compared to Charlie
Chaplin. Regrettably, his films are not all that well known or
accessible to North American audiences. Author, composer, and filmmaker
Michel Chion provides an informative and long overdue analysis of
Tati’s relatively scant output (six feature-length and seven short
films made over a 35-year period). Chion discusses the essential
elements of Tati’s approach to comedy; delves deeply into his use of
imagery, dialogue, and sound; interprets the messages

of the films in which Tati starred; and philosophizes about Tati’s
aesthetics and manipulation of time.

Chion’s explications are well supplemented with references to the
films Jour de fкte, Les Vacances de M. Hulot, Mon Oncle, Playtime,
Trafic, and Parade. An excellent filmography includes the release dates
of the shorts and features and lists the directors, producers,
scriptwriters, directors of photography and musical score, editors, and
cast for each film. A biographical overview presents the highlights of
Tati’s life. For serious students, teachers, and even casual film
fans, the book is a worthwhile acquisition.