Review: "Les Vacances de M. Hulot"

While reading about one of my favorite directors, Wes Anderson, I saw an article that said that he had been influenced by the cinematic style of Jacques Tati, specifically the films in which he portrays the blundering, pipe-toting “Monsieur Hulot”. Naturally, seeing that one of my cinematic heroes was influenced by the “M. Hulot” movies, I had to watch them, starting with the first one made, “Le Vacances de M. Hulot” (Mr. Hulot’s Holiday).

“Les Vacances de M. Hulot”, which is shot entirely in black and white, contains almost no spoken dialogue, most of the actual speaking that is heard is pretty much all in the background which adds an extra challenge because the film has to rely entirely on the acting to explain what is happening. The film starts out with various scenes in which many of the film’s characters are all taking various modes of transportation to reach the French town where they will all be spending their autumn vacation. The titular character, M. Hulot (Tati), is also seen in these initial scenes, driving through the French countryside in his jalopy and being driven off the road by people in faster, and newer cars, as well as experiencing car trouble. From the second I saw the initial “Hulot” scenes, before even meeting the character, or even seeing him, I got a feeling of how the entire movie would play out, and I got excited, because these scenes revealed to me that the film would be quite a playful one, and it was. 

Through the entire film we get a front seat to watch all the happenings at L’Hôtel de Plage and the surrounding areas of the beach side town of Saint-Marc-sur-Mer, witnessing the hilarious interactions M. Hulot has with the people, in the town, as well as witnessing the interesting interactions the have with themselves. 

Apart from M. Hulot, who was played fantastically by Jacques Tati, another one of my favorite characters in this film is the wandering man, played by René Lacourt. I loved the character of the wandering man because he, unlike every other character in the film, witnesses almost everything that happens or is caused by M. Hulot, as opposed to just seeing the aftermath, which is all that the other characters were exposed to. Being the older and quiet man he is, the wandering man, as opposed to revealing to the other characters what is going on, says nothing and just finds entertainment in watching the situations that M. Hulot gets himself into.

As can be deduced from my previous statements I liked this film, it would even be safe to say that I loved it. It is a fantastic and whimsical tale of a funny man, in a more classic sense, and his daily life. Any person who is a fan of Mr. Bean would absolutely love this this film, because the Mr. Bean films were inspired by those of M. Hulot. Anyone that is a fan of a more classic and physical type of comedy reminiscent of the styles of Laurel & Hardy, The Three Stooges, or even Abbot & Costello would also love this movie.

-@JollyOldDro