Trafic (Traffic) (1971)
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100% of critics liked it
(14 reviews) -
77% of users liked it
(1,854 ratings)
The legendary French comedian Jacques Tati returns as his most famous character, the bumbling M. Hulot, in this gentle but pointed satire of 20th Century car culture. In Trafic, Hulot is working as a designer for a major French automotive firm and is struggling to finish his latest project in time… More The legendary French comedian Jacques Tati returns as his most famous character, the bumbling M. Hulot, in this gentle but pointed satire of 20th Century car culture. In Trafic, Hulot is working as a designer for a major French automotive firm and is struggling to finish his latest project in time for an international auto show in Amsterdam -- a compact recreational vehicle that features everything from an electric razor and a collapsible couch to a built-in barbecue grill. While the car is completed shortly before the show opens, it doesn't run just yet, so Hulot and his mechanic (Tony Knepper) load the car into a truck and with an American public relations officer (Maria Kimberly) in tow, they hit the road for Holland. But what should be a simple trip from Paris to Amsterdam becomes increasingly complicated thanks to flat tires, breakdowns, traffic jams and multi-car pileups, and the well-intentioned M. Hulot does little to make things easier. Trafic began as a collaboration between Tati and Dutch filmmaker Bert Haanstra, but Haanstra dropped out of the project mid-way through production due to disagreements with Tati, and the great comedian finished the project on his own. Trafic proved to be one of Tati's final screen projects; his last theatrically released feature, Parade, was a shot-on-video homage to they heyday of French vaudeville and was primarily devoted to showing off his talents as a mime. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Rating, Runtime
- G, 1 hr. 40 min.
- Directed By
- Jacques Tati
- Written By
- Jacques Tati, Jacques LaGrange
- Genres
- Art House & International, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Dec 11, 1972 Limited
- On DVD
- Jul 15, 2008
- Studio
- Columbia Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Mark Bourne, Film.com
...in the breezy vapor that amounts to the movie's plot, it's not the destination that counts, but the leisurely, amiably aimless travel you take getting there.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
A masterpiece in its own right -- not only for the sharp picture of the frenetic and gimmick-crazy civilization that worships cars, but also for many remarkable formal qualities.
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Vincent Canby, New York Times
Like Godard, Tati is also remarkably appreciative of the odd beauty that can be revealed in the shapes, patterns and colors created by the technology of planned obsolescence.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Everyone is incapable of dealing with the modern world, but Mr. Hulot is even worse off than the rest of us.
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Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Tati making tentative amends with technology
Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
Cast
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Jacques Tatias Hulot -
Maria Kimberlyas Maria -
Marcel Fravelas Truck Driver
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Honore Bostelas Managing Director of ALTRA -
Tony Knappersas Dutch Garage Proprietor -
Francois Maisongrosseas Francois
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