Jacques Tati

Wherever you go, from a seaside promenade to a crumbling old quarter or a gleaming downtown, the physical comedy of Jacques Tati seems to be waiting for you. His films, including Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot and Playtime, supplied the gags that people still half-recognise in everyday life, and a passing figure at a street corner can bring back a scene from Mon Oncle.

Tati ranks alongside Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin among great screen comedians. He also created Monsieur Hulot, a character who has joined the company of cinema's enduring icons. Beyond the laughs, Tati stands out as an artist who welcomed risk and gave his whole self to his films.

This study guides readers through the cinematic world Tati built, from Jour de fête to Parade.