The Iranian Art Forum (IAF) in Tehran will screen the satirical comedy from 1967, 'Playtime,' directed and co-written by Jacques Tati. The event is scheduled for Monday at 6:00 PM in the IAF's Nasseri Hall, followed by a review session featuring film critic Mohsen Heymedouz.
'Playtime' is set in mid-century Paris, depicted as hyper-consumerist. The plot is structured into six consecutive episodes that connect two characters who meet repeatedly throughout one day: Barbara, a young American tourist visiting Paris as part of an American tour group, and the melancholic Frenchman Monsieur Hulot.
Tati also stars in the film, reprising the role of Monsieur Hulot from his earlier works 'Monsieur Hulot's Holiday' (1953) and 'My Uncle' (1958). However, during filming, Tati felt ambivalent about playing Hulot as a recurring central figure, so in 'Playtime,' he appears only episodically, alternating between central and supporting roles.
Shot on 70mm film, the work is notable for its vast set design, which Tati built specifically for the film, as well as Tati's signature use of subtle yet complex visual comedy supported by original sound effects. The dialogues in the film, spoken in French, English, and German, often reduce to background noise.
Despite the film's commercial failure upon its initial release, 'Playtime' has since been recognized as a masterpiece by Tati, his boldest work, and one of the greatest films of all time. In 2022, 'Playtime' ranked 23rd on the British Film Institute's critics' list and 41st on their 'Top 100 Greatest Films of All Time' directors' list.