Trafic (1971)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Jacques Tati

Writers:

Jacques Tati (original scenario) and
Jacques Lagrange (artistic collaboration) ...
(more)

Release Date:

11 December 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Mr. Hulot drives a recreational vehicle from Paris to Amsterdam in his usual comic, disasterous style.

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Police | Traffic | Road | Satire

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jacques Tati	...	Monsieur Hulot (as Mr. Hulot)
Marcel Fraval	...	Truckdriver
Honoré Bostel	...	Director of ALTRA
François Maisongrosse	...	François (as F. Maisongrosse)
Tony Knepper	...	Mechanic
Franco Ressel
Mario Zanuelli
Maria Kimberly	...	Maria

Directed by
Jacques Tati

Writing credits
Jacques Tati		original scenario and
Jacques Lagrange		artistic collaboration and
Bert Haanstra		participation

Produced by
Robert Dorfmann	....	producer

Original Music by
Charles Dumont

Cinematography by
Eduard van der Enden		(as Edward van den Enden)
Marcel Weiss

Film Editing by
Maurice Laumain
Sophie Tatischeff
Jacques Tati		(uncredited)

Production Design by
Adrien De Rooy

Costume Design by
Jacques Esterel

Makeup Department
Gert Van Den Berg	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Georges Laurent	....	production manager
Wim Lindner	....	production manager
Marcel Mossotti	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alain Fayner	....	assistant director
Roberto Giandalia	....	assistant director
Marie-France Siegler	....	assistant director

Art Department
Hugo Van Baren	....	carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Alain Curvelier	....	sound
Jean Nény	....	sound mixer (as Jean Neny)
Ed Pelster	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Christian Dupré	....	assistant camera
Paul Rodier	....	camera operator
René Schneider	....	assistant camera
Peter Smaling	....	assistant camera
Anton van Munster	....	camera operator

Editorial Department
Patricia Nény	....	assistant editor
Claude Plouganou	....	synchronization
Patrick Raynaud	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Bernard Gérard	....	conductor

Other crew
Juliette Wuidart	....	administrator

Production Companies

• Les Films Corona
• Les Films Gibé
• Selenia Cinematografica

Distributors

• Columbia Films (1971) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures (1972) (USA) (subtitled)
• Criterion Collection, The (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (1971) (Germany) (DVD)
• VTI Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Monsieur Hulot nel caos del traffico (Italy)
Traffic

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

French | Dutch | English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

Les Films Corona

Trivia:

Because of an argument between, Jacques Tati and Bert Haanstra, Haanstra left the production.

Movie Connections:

Follows Mon oncle (1958)

Delightful Tati film, but not his best

Not Tati's best, but an amusing take on our affair with the automobile. Remember how Playtime ended, with the traffic circle symphony? Now Mr. Hulot is the designer for an automobile company, having come up with the perfect car for camping. They're trying to get it from Paris to Amsterdam for an auto show, and run into many little setbacks. An American PR gal with a mop of a lapdog seems to get more screen time than Tati, zipping around in her little yellow roadster and usually the cause of the calamities. But it's all goodhearted fun, with lots of nods to the rising counterculture; scraggly hippies abound, playing pranks with the dog, or just driving around in flower-laden vehicles. The camper and its amusing gadgets are the highlight of the film, but there are plenty of Tati's trademark observations to bring a smile to your face. If you can watch a movie without distractions, Tati can't be beat. There's always something new to notice, and while this is no Playtime, it is certainly worth watching.