29 November 2004

Jaques Tati 'Playtime' DVD from BFI

This is the best DVD I've bought in ages. I actually watched all of the extras too which I normally don't get time to watch.
There is a great commentary with lots of insightful stuff about the making and the extras and the huge set Tati created to make 'Playtime', a biog about Tati, and another feature with a script girl who worked on 'Playtime' with Tati. There are some trailers for other Tati films too.

There is an excellent French and English site for Tati fans: http://www.tativille.com/ which has all the original music and lots of links including on the 'Playtime' page what looks to be a new French version of the DVD with more extras than the new BFI one.

I saw this on the big screen in 70 mm about 4 or 5 years ago and it really does suit repeat viewings simply because there is so much going on in all corners of the screen. It's a masterpeice and a great DVD for £14.99 from www.play.com - well worth it.

If anyone knows how I can get hold of 'Trafic' on DVD (I have a really old VHS somewhere) then I'd be grateful.

2 comments:

Richard Gibson said...

Yes, Tati seemed to make this for the American market. He had a few American wives of military personnel from a nearby NATO base and all in all there are maybe 4 or 5 lines of audible American in the entire film.

Richard Gibson said...

BFI have added 3 more Tati films including my favourite 'Mon Oncle'.
http://www.bfi.org.uk/videocat/more/tati/index.html