Telling the story of an inept and easily-distracted French mailman, who interrupts his duties to converse with the local inhabitants, this film contains wine drinking and a lot of cycling!

Masterpiece of visual comedy, huge success, this established Tati’s reputation in France and internationally.

+ FRENCH WINE AND CONVERSATION!

The film will be followed by an opportunity for you to practice your French, as we'll be organising a French conversation! Plus, we'll have a special selection of French wines from the bar!

THE PLOT

A tiny French village prepares its annual celebration. The children look with envy at the funfair that is in contruction. The postman, Francois, after seeing a film about how postmen behave in the US, starts to carry out his job differently. He learns to ride a bicycle...

 

PRIZES

The film won the prize for best screenplay at the Venice Film Festival (1949)

The film won the "Grand Prix du Cinema Francais" - Best French film of the Year (award given in France and that doesn't exist anymore)

 

A FEW FACTS

 

- The film is in black & white, but Tati had wanted the film to be in colour. He shot the film in colour, on a new kind of film (this was the start of colour), but it  turned out that thecolour film didn't work.

Thankfully Tati had also shot everything in black & white as a back-up, and this is the version that survived.

- The film was shot largely in the tiny village of Sainte-Sévère-sur-Indre, where Tati had taken refuge during the war in 1942. Many of the locals played the roles of extras. 

 

BUY YOUR TICKET HERE!
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/123155
£4.50 advance ticket OR £5/£3.50 (conc) on the night

 

 

 

Part of our season: FRENCH POETIC COMEDIES: JACQUES TATI FILM SEASON (10 TO 31 JULY 2011)

One of cinema’s greatest comedians, French director Jacques Tati has produced some of the most beautiful, inspired, light, funny and poetic comedies ever.

Very little dialogue and a lot of visual creativity, reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin or Buster Keaton, these are perfect light little gems for the summer months!

 

Sun 10 July, 7.30pm: Jour de Fete (1949) + French wine and Conversation!

Masterpiece of visual comedy, huge success, this established Tati’s reputation in France and internationally.

 

 

 Thu 14 July, 7.30pm: Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot (1953) + French wine and Conversation for Bastille Day!!

“Might contain the greatest collection of sight gags ever committed to celluloid” - The Independent

 

 

    

 Thu 28 July, 7.30pm: Mon Oncle (1958)

 Winner of the Oscar and the New York Film Critics Award for Best Foreign Film, and of a Special Prize at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

 

  

 Sun 31 July, 7.30pm: Play Time (1967)

According to French director F. Truffaut, it is “a film that comes from another planet”. A UFO, but a very friendly one!