Mon Oncle (1958)

A quirky tango between the old and new

I have always loved this movie gem. The legendary director Jacques Tati's 1958 comedy film Mon Oncle is an absolute delight! The movie centers on the endearingly awkward Monsieur Hulot, played by Tati, and his whimsical clash with modern and high-tech inventions. Tati captivates the audience in this visual feast, and while the dialogue may take a back seat, ordinary sounds are enhanced while the film's happy musical score hits all the right notes in capturing Hulot's delightfully bumbling antics and gloriously unfettered lifestyle. The delightfully quirky Mon Oncle serves up a delicious commentary on the shifting social scene in post-war France that's a true feast for the senses. This unusual cinematic updated nod to silent movies will have you grinning from ear to ear!

Monsieur Hulot is the adored uncle of nine-year-old Gérard Arpel, who lives with his materialistic parents, Mr. and Mrs. Arpel who pay little attention to the boy. They live in a modern art deco-style house and garden, Villa Arpel, in a new suburb, situated just beyond the crumbling stone buildings of old Paris. Gérard's parents are stuck in a rigid, robot-like routine of work, outdated gender expectations, prizing possessions, and showing them off, such as the huge fish-shaped fountain at the center of the garden that, in a running gag, Mrs. Arpel activates only for fancy guests. This home was designed with style in mind, not function. Every little detail was chosen for its aesthetic appeal, leaving the comfort (or discomfort) of its residents as an afterthought. This place is all about looks, not livability! The stepping-stones are real ankle-twisters, the furniture looks as though it could break your back, and the kitchen's got all these screeching appliances that could shatter your eardrums - every inch of this place prioritizes looking fancy over actually being functional. It's like they built the house for Instagram, not real life!

Monsieur Hulot, on the other hand, resides in a quaint, weathered corner of the city, far from the glitz and glamour. This quirky fellow has made his humble abode in a charming, well-aged section of town, where the streets have more character than the latest high-rise. Perched atop a quirky old building, to get to his place it’s a wild maze of winding staircases and zany ramps that'll have you feeling like you've stepped into a funhouse. He delights in making the neighbouring canary sing each morning by opening his window at just the right angle to catch the sun’s reflection on the bird’s cage. He loves to interact with the neighbours and villagers. He’s always chatting with the mustached street-sweeper who is forever caught in a perpetual dance with the same stubborn pile of street debris! Hulot is a sort of free spirit, getting around on foot or his classic motorbike, a trusty VéloSoleX.

Monsieur Hulot’s apartment building

Every morning the sun’s reflection from Hulot’s window makes the Canary sing!

Hulot and his neighbours

Conversing with the chatty street cleaner

Meanwhile, his nephew Gérard is bored out of his mind with his stuffy life at home so he sticks to Hulot like glue whenever he can. Hulot, still a big kid himself, has a blast hanging out with Gérard. But he's totally hopeless at keeping Gérard and his mischievous school friends in line - they love pulling pranks on the adults in the village. The oh-so-proper Mr. and Mrs. Arpel just can't seem to handle Hulot's delightfully carefree and youthful ways. Determined to tame his free-spirited ways, they hatch a cunning plan to saddle him with some much-needed work and family obligations all while Mr. Arpel blissfully kicks back and starts forging a bond with young Gérard, hoping to mimic the delightful relationship Gérard shares with the legendary Monsieur Hulot.

Gérard and his father bonding while hiding behind this 1956 Chevrolet 4-door hardtop and playing a joke on passersby

This 1958 French film is a delightfully charming and highly creative comedy. Viewers may notice similarities between its whimsical scenes and the comedic stylings of later works like the movie The Party (1968) starring Peter Sellers and the British TV series Mr. Bean starring Rowan Atkinson - suggesting Mon Oncle may have served as an inspiration. Even without much dialogue (in French) or subtitles, the movie is an absolute joy to watch and requires no knowledge of the language to thoroughly enjoy.

Cast:

• Jacques Tati as Monsieur Hulot

• Jean-Pierre Zola as Monsieur Arpel

• Adrienne Servantie as Madame Arpel

• Alain Bécourt as Gérard Arpel

• Betty Schneider as Betty, the landlord's daughter

• Yvonne Arnaud as Georgette, the maid

• Max Martel as drunken man

Facts:
Jacques Tati, born Jacques Tatischeff, 9 October 1907 – 5 November 1982) was a French mime, filmmaker, actor and screenwriter. In an Entertainment Weekly poll of the Greatest Movie Directors, he was voted the 46th greatest of all time (out of 50), although he directed only six feature-length films.

Jacques Tati (courtesy Criterion Collection)

Tati is perhaps best known for his character Monsieur Hulot, featured in Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot (1953), Mon Oncle (1958), Playtime (1967) and Trafic (1971).

Playtime (1967) ranked 23rd in the 2022 Sight and Sound critics' poll of the greatest films ever made.

Monsieur Hulot

The first of Tati's films to be released in colour, Mon Oncle won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Foreign Language Film, receiving more honours than any of Tati's other cinematic works.

The sets for the film, designed by Jacques Lagrange, were built in 1956 at Victorine Studios (now known as Studios Riviera), near Nice, and torn down after filming was complete.

A replica of Villa Arpel at the Cent Quatre in Paris, 2009

You simply must check out this delightful little film if you get the chance! It's an absolute charmer - light, breezy, and sure to put a smile on your face from start to finish. Trust me, you'll be grinning ear-to-ear by the time the credits roll!

Enjoy,
…Jill

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The Forks Part

Ooh la la! This magnifique recipe will transport you straight to a charming French bistro with its wonderfully simple take on this beloved classic soup! French Onion Soup is the perfect companion - grab a bowl and get ready to savour this film!

French Onion Soup

What You Need:

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 4 large onions, thinly sliced

• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• 32 ounces beef broth

• 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

• salt to taste

• 4 slices thick French bread, toasted

• 4 slices provolone or gruyere cheese

What to Do:

1. Heat a dutch oven pot over medium heat. Add butter and melt. Add the sliced onions, pepper and garlic powder and sauté for 7-8 minutes until tender.

2. Add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce and salt. Cover and simmer for at least 10 minutes. Keep warm until ready to serve.

3. Just before serving, preheat the broiler. Arrange oven-proof individual crocks or soup mugs with a wide mouth on a baking sheet.

4. Ladle soup into each bowl. Top each with a slice of toasted bread and a slice of cheese. Place under broiler until cheese melts and is slightly golden.

5. Serve warm and, of course, with a nice glass of wine!

Notes

You can make this ahead by preparing the soup through the simmering stage. Cover and refrigerate for up to two days. When you’re ready to serve, rewarm soup on the stove and continue with the recipe.

Enjoy!