In the 1950s, French screenwriter, director and comedian Jacques Tati elevated architecture to the role of a main character. In his work, he accentuates the aesthetics of modern architecture, while at the same time bringing a humorous critique of it by confronting its new users and old orders. But after a success reaching as far as the USA, his lavish work Playtime comes crashing down. The ambitious film set consisting of a fully functional development called Tativille is still the stuff of legends. For many years the most expensive film in French cinema met with audience failure. Using an impressive array of period footage, this documentary presents Tati’s genius from his comedic beginnings to an admirer and commentator on everyday life against the backdrop of modernist ideals.
Lecture by Adam Štěch
