Trafic (1971)
Directed by Jacques Tati

Film Review

Jacques Tati's final cinematic film lacks the acute visual poetry and charm of his earlier films but is still a hugely entertaining effort.  The film is just one long series of visual gags, some of which are hilarious by any standards (for example, the brilliantly choreographed car crash sequence). In addition, the film makes some insightful comments on modern man's increasing dependency on the motor car and where this may ultimately lead us.

As in all Tati's films, dialogue is used sparingly and often without saying anything of any importance (which is just as well because, since the dialogue switches between French, English and Dutch, few people are likely to follow all of it).  The dialogue serves mainly to provide extraneous sound, like the noise of a speeding motor car, to complement the film's visual comedy.

One regret is that Hulot's part of the film is overshadowed by the character Maria, a modern, yupee-style PR person for who is clearly used to getting her way.  Whilst Maria is an amusing character, the fact that Hulot is relegated almost to the level of an incidental character is sad, particularly as this was to be his last ever film appearance.

Film Synopsis

The car manufacturer Altra is eager to show of its latest creation - a luxury camping car equipped with of all the latest must-have appliances - at a prestigious motor show in Amsterdam.  The lucky man tasked with delivering this marvel of modern technology to the show is its talented designer, Monsieur Hulot, who is of course the best person to demonstrate its numerous selling points.  Once the car has been loaded safely aboard a truck in Paris, Hulot follows it on the way to the show, accompanied by his chatty public relations secretary.

The journey proves to be far from uneventful.  On the way, Hulot has to deal with a seemingly endless succession of disasters and he soon wonders whether he will ever get to the car show on time.  First the truck breaks down, then it runs out of fuel, then it gets impounded by customs officials, and finally it is caught up in a multiple pile up.  When the camping car is damaged, Hulot and his ever-helpful secretary then have the challenge of finding someone to repair it.  Against all the odds, Hulot finally succeeds in getting himself and his precious creation to Amsterdam, but will he be in time to make it to the show...?