MovieChat Forums > Trafic (1972) Discussion > Not as good as the first three

Not as good as the first three


It just seems like Hulot is flopping around in this movie, not really involved in the things that are going on, there's no real reason for him to be there. Few laughs, not as enthrallingly made as the earlier movies.

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I agree. Also, the humor wasn't as sharp. How much time was spent on nose-picking jokes? Exactly.

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It's a great movie, the only trouble is that the first three are great beyond comparison

black and white movies were better

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I think the point of the progression of the Hulot movies is that he is more enveloped by the world around him as things go on, less involved and less in control as modernity wipes out his era. To that end, I liked that Trafic not only showed Hulot making a conscious effort to adapt and thrive in that world on his own terms (designing the car) but also had him escaping the now unfamiliar Paris and bringing him to more provincial areas on the way to Amsterdam. I don't think he "flopp"ed around at all, at least any more than usual in his interactions with the world around him. On the contrary, he enjoyed more success in Trafic than ever before in his new environment. Usually daunting small tasks and interactions proved easier accomplished and negotiated as the world around him is now more his speed. Ultimately, his design is a hit and he even seems to get the girl (very much his feminine analog throughout the film) as the modern world and the human traffic coming out of the subway literally reject him at the end. Which is a great victory given how optimistically oppressive Playtime was to him. I thought it a fitting end to the Hulot cycle and a magnificent, beautifully composed film.

And while not as charming as M. Hulot's Holiday, Tati's filmmaking on Trafic is at a much higher level than before, second only to his astounding achievement on Playtime. I rate this one slightly higher than Mon Oncle, and that's high praise as all the Hulot movies are amazing works of perfection.

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Well said.

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Just seen Trafic and I agree, not as good as the Tati films that preceded it. However, I notice these boards keep referring to the previous 3 films ... there were four previous films, his first being Jour de Fete, in 1949, which is very good.

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But Jour de Fete did not have Hulot. And no one's seen it.

black and white movies were better

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I've seen it and think it might be Tati's best.

Expansion to your ego.

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I enjoyed this less than the others, too - "Play Time" is my favorite - but this film still got under my skin and kept me riveted for its 90-odd minute running time. I found some of Tati's observations in this film more detached than the others, less controlled, as in the nose-picking montage (which I thought was really excellent). In many ways this movie felt much more organic to me, less architecturally precise.

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i'm watching this first so i should enjoy the others much better!

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Playtime was my favourite as well!

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i think it's very funny.

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